ChristianaCare and Virtua Health
ChristianaCare and Virtua Health terminated their letter of intent in December, ending an agreement that would have resulted in a combined health system spanning Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey. The two health systems signed a letter of intent in July, citing cuts to Medicare and Medicaid as part of their motivation. However, they have decided to continue to operate separately.
“After thoughtful evaluation, both organizations have determined that they can best fulfill their missions to serve their communities by continuing to operate independently. Each health system remains committed to providing high quality, compassionate care and advancing the health and well-being of the patients and communities they serve,” stated a press release about the termination.
Baptist Memorial Health Care and OCH Regional Medical Center
In October, Baptist Memorial Healthcare announced that it had completed the $55 million purchase of OCH Regional Medical Center from Oktibbeha County in Starkville, Miss. Baptist plans to invest $96.8 million in the hospital’s technology, infrastructure and other improvements.
“The first changes Baptist will make include leveraging Baptist’s resources to advance the hospital’s clinical team and nursing staff; implementing Baptist’s processes, care model and infrastructure; expanding services and recruiting physicians; and installing Epic electronic health record system, the most widely used and comprehensive EHR in the country,” states a press release.
Hartford HealthCare and Prospect
The State of Connecticut Office of Health Strategy approved Hartford HealthCare’s purchase of two hospitals owned by Prospect Medical Holdings, which filed bankruptcy in January 2025.
The hospitals include Manchester Memorial Hospital and Rockville General. The $86.1 million purchase closed Jan. 1, 2026, and Hartford HealthCare plans to invest over $225 million more in the hospitals over the next three years.
“This is a positive outcome to an initially challenging situation,” said Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont in a press release. “Ensuring quality services remain both accessible and affordable for our families and communities has always been one of my top priorities, and I am very happy that Hartford HealthCare has made this commitment to Manchester, Vernon and the surrounding communities.”
EXPLORE: Here are three tips for healthcare IT teams on navigating due diligence.
CCMH and SWMC
Two Oklahoma-based hospitals, Comanche County Memorial Hospital and Southwestern Medical Center, announced in December that they have officially merged under the name Memorial Health System of Southwest Oklahoma.
“By bringing CCMH and SWMC together, we are strengthening our ability to care for more people, expanding access to quality services, and building a healthcare system that is ready for the future,” said Memorial Health CEO Brent Smith in a statement.
WVU Health System and Independence Health System
Independence Health System, based in Greensburg, Pa., with five hospitals, will join West Virginia University Health System, according to a statement released in November. As part of the agreement, WVU Health System will invest $800 million over the next five years to modernize the hospitals and expand care access.
“WVU Medicine has clearly demonstrated to us that they are committed to high-quality community health, with services available and accessible locally. Our vote to proceed with WVU Medicine reflects our strong belief that this affiliation honors our legacy and positions our hospitals for innovation, stability, and growth,” said Paul Bacharach, chair of the Independence Health System board of directors, in the statement.
The deal is subject to state and federal regulatory reviews but is expected to be completed this fall.
Saint Peter’s Healthcare System and Atlantic Health
The two New Jersey-based health systems announced in October that they are no longer planning to merge. Saint Peter’s Healthcare System and Atlantic Health signed a definitive agreement in June 2024 but called off the merger after over a year of talks.
“While disappointing, unfortunately we have determined that this is the most appropriate path forward,” said Saad Ehtisham, president and CEO of Atlantic Health, in the announcement. “Despite this, our two organizations have enjoyed a shared history of collaboration on behalf of our patients that I hope will continue to guide our work in the future.”
Allegheny Health Network and Heritage Valley Health System
In October, Allegheny Health Network, located in Pennsylvania, announced that it and Heritage Valley Health System signed an affiliation agreement that would result in Heritage Valley Beaver and Heritage Valley Sewickley hospitals joining Allegheny’s health system.
Both health systems intend to make investments over the next decade to enhance clinical services, IT infrastructure and facilities.
St. Bernards Healthcare and Mississippi County Hospital System
St. Bernards Healthcare has taken over management of Great River Medical Center in Blytheville, Ark., and South Mississippi County Regional Medical Center in Osceola, Miss., from Mississippi County Hospital System, according to a December announcement.
As a result of the deal, St. Bernards intends to upgrade the hospitals’ electronic health record and implement other technologies such as smart rooms with virtual monitoring, artificial intelligence and other digital transformation efforts.
