Creating a Roadmap to Value-Based Care in Autism 

Value-based contracts that involve autism therapy providers taking on risk can be “wildly beneficial.” The contracting process, however, has its challenges.  To ease the complicated process, payers may benefit from creating a value-based “skeleton,” or framework for value-based agreements with payers. Industry insiders stress the importance of providers approaching value-based negotiations with a collaborative mindset. […]

Acorn Health Names New CEO to Lead the Growing ABA Provider

Autism therapy provider Acorn Health has announced Richard Hallworth as the Coral Gables, Florida-based company’s new president and CEO. He succeeds founding CEO Vicki Kroviak and takes over the role after Janet Widmann stepped in on an interim basis on Dec. 8. Kroviak stepped down from the CEO position. Acorn Health’s chief operating officer resigned […]

Acadia Healthcare, Summit BHC Name New CIOs

Acadia Healthcare names Laura Groschen to the C-suite Laura Groschen is now the chief information officer for the largest pure-play behavioral health operator in the U.S. — Acadia Healthcare Co. Inc. (NASDAQ: ACHC). Groschen will report to CEO Chris Hunter. Her role is to advance the company’s digital transformation, according to a news release. She […]

Why ABA Provider Acorn Health Is Growing When Market Leaders Are Shrinking

Vicki Kroviak, CEO of Acorn Health, rejects the “dots-on-a-map strategy” for growing autism therapy businesses. Under Kroviak’s direction, the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) provider has expanded its footprint by 47% since 2018. At the same time, others in the space have had to downsize — laying off staff and even abandoning entire state markets. Most […]

ABA Provider Acorn Health Acquires 7 ABA Centers From Breakthrough Behavior

Autism therapy provider Acorn Health announced Tuesday that it has acquired seven applied behavior analysis (ABA) centers from Maitland, Florida-based Breakthrough Behavior. The Coral Gables, Florida-based in-home and facility-based autism provider continues to grow at a time when several of the largest operators in the autism treatment space are rationalizing their portfolios. The deal included […]

H2 Health Purchases Youth Provider Great Strides Rehabilitation

Grant Avenue Capital, LLC, a health care-focused private equity and venture capital firm, has made an investment in the pediatric care market through its portfolio company, H2 Health. H2 Health has purchased Great Strides Rehabilitation, Inc, a Jacksonville, Florida-based provider of youth behavioral health services. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Serving children and […]

Children’s Behavioral Health Provider Stepping Stones Reportedly Set for Sale

Stepping Stones Group, which is a multi-state provider of services to children with autism and other behavioral needs, is reportedly up for sale. PE Hub reported Thursday that the organization’s parent company, Five Arrows Capital Partners, has recently initiated a competitive sale process for the provider that is aimed exclusively at private equity buyers. Investment […]

Behavioral Health M&A Dips in Q3, But On Track for Record in 2021

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) among behavioral health providers dipped a bit in the third quarter (Q3), but the sector is still poised to close out 2021 on a high note. Across the behavioral health care spectrum, 25 transactions occurred in Q3 2021, according to a report released by M&A advisory firm Mertz Taggart. The number […]

ABA Provider Acorn Health Sold to Canadian Teacher Pension Fund

The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board has acquired Acorn Health — a provider of applied behavior therapy (ABA) for children with autism spectrum disorder. The board is an institutional fund manager that serves working and retired teachers in the Canadian province of Ontario. Ontario Teachers’ has purchased Acorn Health from MBF Healthcare Partners, a middle […]

Transactions: Medical Properties Trust’s $950M Springstone Deal; Acorn’s Latest ABA Acquisition

Medical Properties Trust announces $950M Springstone deal Medical Properties Trust (NYSE: MPW) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 18 inpatient behavioral health hospital facilities and an interest in the operations of Springstone from the PE firm Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe. The deal has a price tag of $950 million, with $760 million […]