These are the five biggest moves by the five biggest ASC chains so far in 2024: 

Both Walgreens and CVS Health have recently announced plans to shutter locations and lay off employees, further evidence of the changing landscape in the retail pharmacy space. 

A healthcare real estate firm has paid $72 million for a three-building, 201,000-square-foot outpatient medical center in Plymouth, Minn., in one of the biggest local medical office sales ever, according to an Oct. 16 report from Finance & Commerce.

A Humana subsidiary will acquire Miami Beach, Fla.-based Clinical Care Medical Centers for $45 million after the multispecialty group sought Chapter 11 protection Oct. 13. 

Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare is one of the country's largest operators of surgery centers through HCA Surgery Ventures, its ASC arm. 

Walgreens will close 1,200 locations over the next three years, the company said in its Oct. 15 fiscal fourth-quarter earnings report. 

UnitedHealth Group's Optum earned $63.9 billion in total revenue in the third quarter of 2024 — an increase of 11.7% year over year, according to the company's financial report. 

Healthcare has been a focus of private-equity investment for years, driving consolidation throughout the industry.

CVS Health is planning to close or sell 29 regional pharmacies and discontinue its infusion services offerings, according to a statement shared with Becker's. 

Medcraft Investment Partners has purchased  Sisters Grove Pavilion, a medical office building in Colorado Springs, Colo., according to an Oct. 10 report from CommercialSearch.com.

Here are five of the major joint ventures announced between health systems and ASC companies in 2024 so far:

A medical office building in East Hills, N.Y., has sold for $7.1 million, according to an Oct. 10 report from Long Island Business News.

CVS Health, one of the biggest players in the battle to acquire physicians, is facing a possible split amid major financial struggles. 

Dallas-based Steward Health Care, a for-profit health system, has been facing financial difficulties and controversies since it sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection May 6 and is now working to sell its 31 hospitals.

Escondido, Calif.-based North County Oral & Facial Surgery Center has sold for $6.15 million, according to an Oct. 7 report from ConnectCRE.

Investor firm  Bain Capital and real estate operator Evergreen Medical Properties have acquired a 60,000-square-foot outpatient facility in Portland, Ore. 

Vancouver, Wash.-based PeaceHealth is planning to acquire four medical clinics from Renton, Wash.-based Providence, according to an Oct. 3 report from The Columbian.

The number of physicians running independent practices is steadily declining amid a growing gap between reimbursements and the escalating costs of maintaining these practices. 

Here are five major transactions in the third quarter significantly reshaping the ASC industry, reflecting broader trends in consolidation and strategic partnerships. 

Independent physicians and ASC operators are closely monitoring the ongoing wave of hospital sales and market consolidation, amid the potential for reduced competition, rising costs and limited referral networks.