PESP Tracker Finds Private Equity Owns 561 US Hospitals
The Private Equity Stakeholder Project's updated hospital tracker, published Oct. 28, finds private equity firms own about 561 U.S. hospitals, or 11.9% of the nation's 4,714 private, nongovernment hospitals and 33.6% of its 1,668 for-profit hospitals. Apollo Global Management is the largest owner with about 200 facilities, followed by Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe with 124. The update adds new data showing at least 129 of these hospitals (23%) are held through joint ventures with nonprofit health systems, and at least 144 (25.6%) have their real estate owned by REITs, led by Medical Properties Trust. Rated private equity-owned hospitals averaged 2.6 CMS stars versus a higher national average, and at least 116 (20.7%) serve rural communities; PESP notes the figures are an approximation since firms are not required to disclose acquisitions.