The West Virginia University Health System signed a definitive agreement today to acquire Independence Health System, a move that expands WVU’s reach into Western Pennsylvania.
The deal is expected to close in late September or early October.
The agreement has been in the works since November, when WVU Health announced its intention to acquire Independence Health. The Pennsylvania system was formed in 2023 through the merger of Excela Health and the Butler Health System. The deal must still clear regulatory approvals.
With the acquisition, WVU Health System, which already owns Uniontown Hospital, expands into Westmoreland and Butler counties. The deal includes Excela Health’s former hospitals in Greensburg, Latrobe and Mt. Pleasant, as well as the Butler and Clarion facilities that formed the Butler Health System.
The agreement supports a planned $800 million investment to strengthen Independence Health System’s five hospitals, expand care, upgrade facilities and technology, and improve patient access across the region, officials said. These investments will include a new electronic medical record system, significant facility upgrades and expansions, and enhanced clinical capabilities.
“This partnership is about preserving and expanding access to high-quality healthcare close to home,” said Albert L. Wright Jr., president and CEO of WVU Health.
Ken DeFurio, president and CEO of Independence Health System, said the acquisition brings vital stability to the region’s medical landscape.
“It brings the scale, capital and clinical strength needed to protect local access to care and positions this region for long-term growth,” DeFurio said.
By acquiring Independence Health, WVU will also be able to expand its own health insurance organization, Peak Health, mirroring the integrated provider-payer models used by Pittsburgh-based UPMC and Allegheny Health Network.