Twenty-five states have introduced 79 bills to regulate this model of ownership, which critics say often relies on sale-leaseback deals to strip assets and extract fees. Steward Health Care, formerly the nation's largest private for-profit system, recently closed its safety net hospitals after filing for bankruptcy. These facilities now face additional pressure from projected federal Medicaid cuts of $1 trillion over the next 10 years, leaving them with thin margins and limited backup plans.
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
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ER Deaths Rise 13% at 447 US Hospitals Owned by Private Equity
Business22 days ago
Hospital assets declined by an average of 24% within two years of a corporate acquisition, representing a loss of roughly $28 million per facility. Research from JAMA found that preventable adverse events jumped 25% after private equity buyouts, while the Annals of Internal Medicine reported that ER deaths rose 13% at hospitals now owned by these firms. Private equity companies currently control 447 US hospitals and were responsible for 21% of all healthcare bankruptcies in 2024, despite contributing only 7% to national GDP.
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