Novant buys UCI Medical's urgent care, physical therapy sites | Modern Healthcare

Novant Health has completed its purchase of BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina's UCI Medical Affiliates, a company that manages and provides administrative services for urgent care centers and physical therapy facilities.

The acquisition includes 52 urgent care centers and 20 clinics across South Carolina that are part of UCI Medical subsidiaries Doctors Care and Progressive Physical Therapy, according to a news release. Financial details were not disclosed.

Related: Novant to buy UCI Medical's urgent care, physical therapy sites

Jason Bernd, Novant Health's senior vice president and president of the system's South Carolina region, said Monday that all UCI Medical Affiliates employees would be retained. He also said the health system plans to expand its free-standing facility footprint.

"We are really focused on an ambulatory asset life strategy, particularly in our South Carolina market," Bernd said. "We are excited about looking for opportunities in that space."

UCI Medical and BCBS of South Carolina, did not respond to requests for comment.

Winston-Salem, North Carolina-based Novant has made a number of other moves in the region this past year, including its $2.4 billion acquisition in February of three hospitals in South Carolina owned by Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare, and recently competing with Charlotte, North Carolina-based Atrium Health for additional beds in North Carolina.

The health system also attempted to acquire two North Carolina hospitals from Franklin, Tennessee-based Community Health Systems, but dropped the deal in June following a lawsuit by the Federal Trade Commission seeking to block the transaction.

Novant, Dallas-based Baylor Scott & White Health, Houston-based Memorial Hermann Health System and Renton, Washington-based Providence also recently launched Longitude Health, an organization focused on improving access to drugs, care coordination for Medicare Advantage members and billing processes.

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