 Permanente grabbed everyone’s attention last year when it said it was creating Risant Health, a new and vague entity that acquired Geisinger and had plans to scoop up at least four more health systems that are focused on “value-based care.” Well, nothing has happened since then, at least publicly. Instead, everyone has been playing the parlor game of guessing who those next systems could be. There are some rumblings that the next deal could be announced in the near future. After reading some recent hospital financial reports, it’s clear there are a handful of systems that mirror Geisinger’s shaky trajectory and could find themselves in Kaiser’s crosshairs. But Kaiser is being very deliberate in its next targets. “The old phrase, ‘Measure twice, cut once’ — Kaiser will measure four or five times before they cut,” said Kevin Holloran, a senior director at Fitch Ratings who leads the company’s nonprofit health care group. By picking Geisinger as its first acquisition, Kaiser has established some criteria for future Risant targets. Read my story to learn which health systems could fit the mold. |
HENRY KOTULA 