The trend of private equity (PE) firms seeking high returns in health care has been in full bloom for more than a decade. But whereas previously PE was focused on a top-down approach of buying hospitals and health systems, that focus has begun to shift toward less-costly, smaller specialty groups and physician practices.
Bain & Company's 2021 Global Healthcare Private Equity and M&A Report found that investors are pursuing new "buy-and-build" strategies in less-penetrated segments of the provider sector. The report notes that there is increased focus among PE firms on areas that are promoting the shift toward home-based and outpatient care, along with "risk-bearing targets" like Medicare Advantage providers operating under capitation models and behavioral health providers.
Mission Alignment is Essential
For health care entities considering an investment from a private equity firm, the risk/reward calculus is complicated by recent downturns in patient volume and revenues due to COVID-19. The pandemic exposed the weaknesses that small providers face in a fee-for-service (FFS) environment and amplified the need for health care companies to maintain sufficient capital resources on hand to remain competitive and viable
The short-term financial windfall that may come from an acquisition must be weighed against the long-term implications, especially for physician practices who need to consider whether they are going to be part of an eventual sale. PE firms have a term of exit, typically within five to seven years, to meet shareholder obligations, so it is fair to raise a concern about what happens when that time is up.
Perhaps most importantly, compatibility relies on cultural alignment between PE firms and health care organizations. The economic model must support the care mission. Ensuring that the missions of the acquiring and acquired organizations are transparent and well aligned is critical for successful outcomes.
Improvements in Efficiency and Accountability
Partnerships between PE firms and medical groups have proven especially advantageous for easing the administrative burden for smaller providers. PE provides practices with a backstop to improve cash cycles and back-office processes, such as management reporting and compliance work.
PE investment has also allowed post-acute companies to grow and test new business models, delivering greater access to in-home care and telehealth. Technology is breaking down the traditional brick–and- mortar localized care delivery system, expanding access and lowering costs. PE brings the capital, and the know-how, to build these assets at scale.
In addition, the involvement of a PE firm creates visibility into the performance of a health care business, holding internal teams accountable for efficiencies to satisfy shareholders while delivering exemplary patient care. In August 2020, a JAMA study found hospitals acquired by PE firms experienced increases in net income as well as improvement in quality metrics.
Thinking Long Term
The health care industry is in a mature stage of PE involvement in core hospital service. With increased segmentation across the industry, the trend is growing and shifting. A JAMA study released in February 2020 found that more than 350 physician practices were acquired by PE firms between 2013 and 2016. The study concludes that PE firms see ample business opportunities in the physician practice space, expecting annual returns greater than 20%, though there remain "unknown implications for care delivery and patient outcomes" in the future.
Provider leaders should consider what they need long-term out of a PE transaction, secure commitments to quality and ensure that the new management will continue to invest as the industry moves away from FFS and expands into new business models.
Practices also need to consider the legal and compliance complexities that can arise out of the new administrative structures resulting from a PE investment. Risk Strategies Health Care Practice experts have extensive experience evaluating and advising on these partnerships and stand ready to help you achieve the best possible outcomes.
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The contents of this article are for general informational purposes only and Risk Strategies Company makes no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy or completeness of any information contained herein. Any recommendations contained herein are intended to provide insight based on currently available information for consideration and should be vetted against applicable legal and business needs before application to a specific client.