Large Health Systems Accelerate Hospital Divestitures, Scrap Joint Ventures
Becker's Hospital Review reports that major U.S. health systems have spent 2026 shedding hospitals and joint ventures to cut losses, citing a Lown Institute analysis finding seven of the ten largest systems held fewer hospitals at the end of 2025 than in 2020. Ascension lost 27 hospitals since 2020 and reduced operating losses by nearly $2.9 billion partly through portfolio cuts, while CommonSpirit has sold or is selling eight hospitals in 2026 under its restructuring plan. A Kaufman Hall report found 68% of announced hospital transactions in Q1 2026 involved a divestiture, up from 45.6% in 2025. Other systems, including Ardent Health, Community Health Systems, and Intermountain Health, have exited joint ventures or affiliations, and at least seven proposed hospital partnerships have been called off this year.