ASC Transactions & Valuation Issues

Brentwood, Tenn.-based ASC operator Surgery Partners could be the next "hot takeover" of the market, MarketBeat reported Sept. 25. 

Santa Clara (Calif.) County's board of supervisors has unanimously approved the appropriation of $315 million to purchase a hospital from HCA Healthcare, one of the country's largest ASC operators. 

For years, healthcare has been a major area of focus for private-equity investment, driving strong trends of consolidation within the industry. But a recent market analysis report from Pitchbook shows that momentum in healthcare specialist funds may be slowing down.

Bellingham, Wash.-based Doherty Dermatology has been acquired by Frontier Dermatology.

Cardiology has the lowest percentage of physicians in private equity-affiliated practices when compared to gastroenterology and orthopedics, according to a recent study by Avalere and the American Independent Medical Practice Association. 

Physicians are concerned about the erosion of autonomy amid accelerating industry consolidation and migration to employed models. 

Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare embarked on a new era five years ago by reducing its debt profile and redirecting focus to its ASC arm, United Surgical Partners International, CEO and Chair Saum Sutaria, MD, said. 

Optum is the parent company of Deerfield, Ill.-based ASC chain SCA Health, which has a portfolio of more than 320 ASCs and 9,200 physicians. 

The ASC industry is facing new forces in consolidation: large health systems and independent ASC groups with non-traditional business models.

Retail giant Amazon continues to expand into healthcare, emerging as a significant disruptor in the industry and a key player to watch.