Tennessee healthcare firms renew interest in acquisitions

The Tennessean, May 27, 2008

The largest Nashville-based hospital chains have spent the past few years absorbing past acquisitions and selling off a few locations to pay down debt. But both HCA Inc. and LifePoint Hospitals Inc. have talked recently of a growing desire to do a few deals again. The renewed chatter comes as experts see a buyer's market for the big chains as smaller players face refinancing debt amid a national credit crunch. This and other factors may drive smaller healthcare groups to consider selling to the big operators, analysts say.