Ascension, FTC reach deal as $3.9B acquisition of Amsurg is finalized
Just over a year after announcing its intent to acquire a chain of ambulatory surgery centers for $3.9 billion, Ascension has closed the deal—but only after making some concessions to alleviate antitrust concerns raised by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
While the FTC has agreed not to officially challenge the buyout of Amsurg, subject to required divestitures, Ascension will be required to divest from seven surgery centers, as the agency believes they exist in markets where competition will be limited by the buyout.
Amsurg had roughly 250 surgery centers under its umbrella, across 34 states. So, the scope of the divestment is narrowly limited to areas where Ascension already provides similar services.
Ascension has a network of over 90 hospitals, senior living centers and dozens of other patient care sites across 17 states. That is, prior to the purchase of Amsurg, which will place it into new markets.
With the deal closed, Ascension now operates more than 300 ambulatory surgery centers nationwide.
“Healthcare is increasingly moving beyond the traditional hospital setting, and this acquisition positions us to lead that transformation,” Eduardo Conrado, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ascension, said in a statement. “By expanding our ambulatory surgery capabilities, we are making care more accessible, convenient, and affordable for patients, while ensuring our hospitals remain focused on highly specialized acute care.
“Together, we are building a more integrated, future-ready health system,” he added.
Expanding beyond hospitals
Ascension first announced the buyout in June 2025, shortly after Bloomberg broke the news. At the time, the health system was looking to move its operations beyond a primary focus on hospitals and into outpatient care settings.
The Amsurg purchase aligned with those goals. However, the acquisition drew FTC attention, over fears competition for surgery services could be limited nationwide. Patients could, in turn, face service price increases.
The seven divestments include centers in Florida, Oklahoma, Kansas, Tennessee and Texas—the locations where regulators most feared competition would be squashed. In order to ensure timely compliance, the FTC said it would be monitoring Ascension’s plans to divest from the Amsurg clinics.
Amsurg is now officially part of Ascension.
Chad is an award-winning writer and editor with over 15 years of experience working in media. He has a decade-long professional background in healthcare, working as a writer and in public relations.