On September 1, 2026, Adena Health completed its acquisition of Fairfield Medical Center (FMC), a hospital system located in southeastern Ohio. This acquisition comes after a thorough investigation by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) into a prior attempt by OhioHealth to acquire FMC, which raised significant competitive concerns.

The FTC's investigation into OhioHealth's proposed acquisition highlighted risks of increased costs and diminished quality of care for patients in Ohio. Additionally, there were concerns regarding FMC's process for identifying potential buyers. To address these issues, FTC staff worked closely with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and encouraged FMC to explore alternative buyers through a more comprehensive sales process.

This robust sales process attracted multiple interested parties, ultimately leading to the abandonment of the OhioHealth deal and the successful partnership with Adena Health. The FTC emphasized that this outcome allows FMC to continue providing healthcare services to Ohio residents without the competitive risks associated with the previous proposal.

In response to the acquisition, FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson and Commissioner Mark R. Meador issued a statement outlining best practices for firms seeking buyers. FTC Bureau of Competition Director Daniel Guarnera reiterated the Commission's commitment to maintaining competition in healthcare, particularly in rural areas, and warned that the FTC would take action against detrimental hospital deals.