UnityPoint Health, Presbyterian Healthcare Services seek merger

Editor’s note: This story was updated with additional information at 11:00 a.m. March 3.

UnityPoint Health, which runs Meriter Hospital in Madison, and New Mexico-based Presbyterian Healthcare Services have signed a letter of intent to join forces, the health systems announced Thursday.

The combined organization would span four states and consist of 40 hospitals, hundreds of clinics and “significant health plan operations,” according to a statement. The health systems would retain their individual brands.

“UnityPoint Health and Presbyterian are two organizations rooted in similar values,” UnityPoint Health CEO Clay Holderman said in a statement.

UnityPoint Health-Meriter partnered with UW Health in 2017. Nicole Aimone, Meriter spokeswoman, said the proposed merger with Presbyterian will not impact the joint operating agreement.

“This partnership will only make the UnityPoint Health organization stronger and, therefore, a better partner to UW Health,” she said.

Along with the hospital, UnityPoint Health runs seven primary care clinics in the Madison area. It also operates in Iowa and Illinois.

In 2019, UnityPoint Health explored a merger with Sanford Health in South Dakota. The two ended up dropping the plan.

– Elizabeth Casolo for Wisconsin Health News