Health Care Up As Merger Intrigue Continues -- Health Care Roundup

Shares of health-care companies rose amid further merger intrigue.

Two major hospital systems are in talks about a possible merger that would create the largest U.S. owner of hospitals, as a series of deals shape up to further consolidate control of the health-care landscape. Two of the largest hospital chains in the U.S., Ascension and Providence St. Joseph Health, both nonprofits, have entered negotiations on a potential merger that would create the largest chai, according to people familiar with the discussions. A deal would create an entity with 191 hospitals in 27 states and annual revenue of $44.8 billion, substantially larger than the current market leader, HCA Healthcare, The Wall Street Journal reported.

--Rob Curran, rob.curran@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

December 11, 2017 16:33 ET (21:33 GMT)