UnityPoint Health, Presbyterian Healthcare Services seek merger

Editor’s note: This story was updated with additional information at 10:35 a.m. March 3.

UnityPoint Health 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 the press release.

Iowa-based UnityPoint Health has five hospitals and multiple clinics in Illinois. It operates in Wisconsin.

Urbana-based Carle Health is set

 to acquire UnityPoint’s three central Illinois hospitals and clinics next month.

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

– Elizabeth Casolo for Health News Illinois