Beyond M&A: Hospitals turn to joint ventures for growth, patient focus

Hospital and health system merger and acquisition (M&A) announcements increased by 27% in 2023 compared to 2022, according to Cain Brothers, a division of KeyBanc Capital Markets—a pace likely to continue this year. In addition to leveraging M&A, some health systems are leaning toward joint ventures to diversify revenue and expand offerings. Joint ventures can be less capital-intensive and face fewer regulatory requirements, allowing health care organizations to be nimbler and more efficient in meeting patient needs.

One example is a management services company partnering with a specialty physician group to help optimize the group’s ability to utilize space, deliver services and receive assistance with certain administrative functions. Understanding the risks involved with setting up such joint ventures is imperative. Considerations include whether one of the parties entering into a joint venture is tax-exempt. The tax-exempt entity should ensure the joint venture is organized in a way that does not jeopardize its status.

Still, opportunities for strategic partnerships are growing in the health care sector, with a focus on investing in convenient care options to better meet patient demand and help address compressed margins.

Patients continue to demand the delivery of customized services in a convenient setting. Like big-box retailers, nontraditional health care companies have taken notice of these shifting consumer preferences and continue to disrupt care delivery by meeting that demand through innovative solutions.

In 2024 we expect more shifts in the health care delivery ecosystem as the digitalization of health care evolves and consumerism continues to take hold. Based on a recent VMG Health survey, 97% of health system leaders would consider some type of joint venture in a variety of service line areas, including outpatient surgery, urgent care and “hospital at home,” in which a patient receives inpatient-level care in the comfort of their home.

The importance of supply chain resiliency

One key area of focus for organizations amid new partnerships and resulting digital and consumer shifts in care delivery models is ensuring their supply chains are resilient and continue to evolve and align with where and how care is delivered.

Mike Morioka, an RSM US LLP director focused on supply chain for the health care industry, notes, ‘’As an organization and its affiliates become larger in size, it is critical that the supply chain program transforms and becomes more strategic. The program’s goal should be to drive down nonlabor expenses for the organization and its affiliates while enhancing technology, integration efforts and capturing the transparency of a supply chain journey.”

The takeaway

Last year’s robust M&A numbers for hospital and health systems signal a hunger for growth, but joint ventures can offer a nimbler path to diversification and patient-centric care for some organizations. As margins struggle to rebound to pre-pandemic levels, more strategic partnerships are expected in 2024, including outpatient-type joint ventures and digital at-home models that capitalize on shifting patient preferences and health care’s digital revolution. Each organization’s agility within its supply chain will be a key to success for expansion of services and revenue diversification in the evolving health care landscape.

This article was written by Michael Haas, Danny Schmidt, Matt Wolf and originally appeared on 2024-02-23.
2022 RSM US LLP. All rights reserved.
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