Ascension Resumes Acquisitions, Sells Arizona Medicaid Plan Stake
Ascension is expanding again after a period of hospital divestitures, with its latest deal being an Oct. 1 agreement by Ascension Seton to acquire three Family Hospital Systems care sites near Austin, including an emergency/inpatient hospital and two urgent care and imaging locations. The move follows Ascension's $3.9 billion Amsurg acquisition in June, which added over 250 ambulatory surgery centers, and a June purchase of full ownership of Cedar Park Medical Center for $436 million. The system reported a narrowed operating loss and improved margins for fiscal 2026 after years of losses and hospital sales. Separately, Ascension agreed earlier this month to sell its stake in Arizona Medicaid managed care plan Mercy Care to Aetna, signaling a pullback from insurance as it reinvests in care delivery and ambulatory infrastructure.