ECG’s Healthcare Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) Update for Q1 of 2026 is now available! This edition includes a spotlight on cross-state mergers.

Here are three key takeaways:

• There were 424 announced US transactions in Q1 2026, compared to 416 in the prior quarter.
  • Notable transactions from the quarter include the following:

• Announced US healthcare private equity transactions increased from 129 deals in Q4 of 2025 to 139 transactions in Q1 of 2026.
  • The quarter was marked by two notable home health transactions: Kinderhook’s acquisition of Enhabit for $1.1 billion and Aveanna Healthcare’s acquisition of Family First Homecare for $175.5 million. Significant healthcare private equity transactions announced in the quarter included the following:

• Health systems are prioritizing cross-state M&A activity that supports ambulatory growth and outpatient access. This is evidenced by Sutter Health’s proposed transaction with Allina Health, in which Sutter’s CEO emphasized the planned expansion of ambulatory and specialty care locations to help meet patient demand outside traditional hospital settings.

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