FTC says review of OhioHealth deal helped steer Fairfield Medical Center sale to Adena Health

The Federal Trade Commission said its review of OhioHealth’s proposed purchase of Fairfield Medical Center helped lead the hospital system to abandon that deal and pursue a sale to Adena Health instead.

The agency said its staff had raised competitive concerns about the OhioHealth proposal, including the potential for higher costs and lower quality of care for Ohioans. The FTC said the Adena Health deal avoids those concerns and will allow Fairfield Medical Center to continue serving patients in Ohio.

In a press release dated Sept. 2, 2026, the FTC said Fairfield Medical Center, described as a hospital system in southeastern Ohio, had earlier been the subject of a proposed acquisition by OhioHealth. FTC staff said they investigated that proposal and had concerns about how thoroughly FMC had searched for other potential buyers.

The commission said staff worked with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office during the investigation and encouraged FMC to run a sales process. According to the FTC, that process drew interest from multiple potential buyers and eventually led to the OhioHealth transaction being abandoned. FMC then partnered with Adena Health.

Bureau of Competition Director Daniel Guarnera said in the release that the commission remains vigilant in preserving healthcare competition and that staff’s work produced a better deal for the people of Ohio without litigation.

The release also said Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson issued a separate statement, joined by Commissioner Mark R. Meador, on best practices for firms that are searching for a buyer.

The FTC said the Adena Health transaction is now the path forward for Fairfield Medical Center.

Sources

• FTC press release: Bureau Competition Director statement regarding Fairfield Medical Center’s sale to Adena Health

Editorial note: This article was prepared with AI assistance and includes source attribution for reader review.