• California/North Carolina: Investment firm Patient Square Capital has agreed to acquire Premier Inc. in an all-cash deal valued at $2.6 billion. Premier is a health services and technology company that helps healthcare providers, payers, and suppliers with workforce management, group purchasing, performance data and analytics, and more. Founded in 2020, Patient Square primarily invests in the healthcare sector and currently manages over $14 billion in assets. Previously, the company was part of a consortium that purchased Syneos Health for $7.1 billion in 2023 and acquired dental and animal health company Patterson Cos. for $4.1 billion last December. According to the Wall Street Journal, Patient Square's deal with Premier is not subject to financing conditions and is expected to close by Q1 of next year. (Kellaher/Kreutzer, Wall Street Journal, 9/22; Davis, Bloomberg/Modern Healthcare, 9/22)
• Maryland: FDA has rescinded a rule that would have allowed the agency to regulate lab-developed tests as medical devices. Under the rule, FDA planned to phase in oversight of lab-developed tests over a four-year period. However, in May 2024, the American Clinical Laboratory Association (ACLA) filed a lawsuit against FDA, arguing that the agency did not have the authority to regulate professional testing laboratory services. On March 31, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas ruled in favor of the ACLA and vacated the rule. According to FDA, the rule was expected to cost the healthcare industry over $1.3 billion each year. By vacating the rule, the healthcare industry could see an estimated $1.5 billion in yearly cost savings. (Murphy, Becker's Hospital Review, 9/19)
• North Carolina/Pennsylvania: GSK recently announced plans to invest $30 billion for research, development, and supply chain infrastructure in the United States over the next five years. The investment includes $1.2 billion for new manufacturing facilities and digital technologies. Other investments include expansions for drug substance manufacturing, device and auto injector production, and AI capabilities at several U.S. sites, including those in Pennsylvania, Maryland, North Carolina, and Montana. GSK has also planned for the United States to be its largest base for clinical trials over the next five years, Becker's Hospital Review reports. (Murphy, Becker's Hospital Review, 9/18)

Regional health plans are facing increased competition from national insurers and rising demands from consumers. Learn how regional plans can effectively respond to market forces and drive growth through diversification with three actionable strategies and real-world examples.