Intermountain Deals Highlight Hospital System Repositioning Trend
Kaufman Hall's third-quarter M&A report, published Oct. 13, identifies a 2026 hospital industry trend of "clear, active repositioning," citing Intermountain Health as a prime example. Intermountain completed acquisition of majority stakes in two Idaho Falls hospitals from Surgery Partners on Sept. 17, adding 126 beds while preserving local branding and physician ownership. Separately, Intermountain signed an agreement with AdventHealth on Aug. 6 to form a joint venture combining their Denver-area hospitals and care sites, with AdventHealth managing daily operations once the deal closes in early 2027 pending regulatory approval. Kaufman Hall notes systems are pursuing partnerships for specific capabilities and market positioning rather than scale alone.