Ascension to sell Mercy Care stake to Aetna
According to Ascension’s fiscal 2026 financial statement, the organization plans to hand over its stake in Arizona insurer Mercy Care to CVS Pharmacy. Ascension Care Management Insurance Holdings signed the definitive agreement in July. The filing omits any mention of a sale price or expected closing timeline.
The filing notes that “in July 2026, Ascension Care Management Insurance Holdings, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ascension (Seller) entered into a definitive agreement with CVS Pharmacy, Inc. (CVS), whereby the Seller will transfer its membership interest in Mercy Care to CVS.” Completion of the deal is anticipated once required regulatory clearances are secured.
Although the filing lists CVS, an Ascension representative informed Healthcare Finance News that Aetna is the actual counterpart. The spokesperson clarified that Ascension together with Dignity Health have arranged to convey complete ownership of Mercy Care, their jointly-owned Arizona managed-care plan, to Aetna, pending the necessary regulatory examinations and approvals.
The representative observed that “Mercy Care has long served vulnerable populations, families and individuals across Arizona through AHCCCS (Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System) Medicaid programs and Medicare Duals Special Needs Plans.” He also stated, “Aetna has successfully managed Mercy Care’s day-to-day operations and administrative services for over 20 years.”
Moving the ownership to Aetna is described as a logical progression of the existing collaboration. The change couples Mercy Care’s deep community roots and operational framework with Aetna’s scale, technology infrastructure and long-term capital resources. Dignity Health remains deeply committed to serving Arizona communities through their clinical care delivery networks, hospitals and outpatient centers.
Mercy Care operates as a nonprofit managed-care entity that provides coverage to individuals eligible for Arizona’s Medicaid program, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System. It also offers Mercy Care Advantage, a plan for people who have Medicare and receive Medicaid assistance.
System expands outpatient services and surgery centers
Ministry Health Care completed the sale of its membership interest in Network Health to Froedtert Health on Nov. 1, 2023. The sale is part of the fiscal 2025 financial discussion. Additionally, the organization expanded its outpatient care business.
Ascension acquired AmSurg in June. This deal added 300 ambulatory surgery centers to its network. The purchase supports a strategy of providing surgical care in community settings. The system intends to reserve hospital resources for patients with complex needs.
