Report: Providence in talks to possibly merge with Ascension

RENTON, Wash. — Renton-based Providence St. Joseph Health is talking about merging with another health system, potentially creating the largest healthcare provider in the country, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The talks are being reported by the Wall Street Journal, but no deal is imminent.

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If Providence St. Joseph merged with Ascension, it could turn up more merger talks in a healthcare industry already being rocked by merger news.

Such a merger would create a company covering 191 hospitals in 27 states and generating an annual revenue of nearly $45 billion.

It would dethrone HCA Healthcare as the country's largest hospital operator.

Both Providence and Ascension are nonprofits, and according to the Journal, have been exploring merger talks for months.

This also comes just days after Catholic Health Initiatives announced they'd merge with Dignity Health for 139 hospitals in 28 states.

Also in healthcare, drugstore giant CVS announced a $69 billion acquisition of insurer Aetna.
     
Critics of such a deal say it could raise prices and limit patient choice.

Cox Media Group