HealthCare Partners acquires N.M. medical group

HealthCare Partners has acquired a multispecialty medical group in New Mexico in a deal announced less than five months after the Torrance, Calif.-based operator of medical groups and physician networks agreed to an acquisition by DaVita.

Financial terms of the deal with ABQ Health Partners (PDF) were not disclosed in the news release.

The physician-owned medical group has a network of about 184 physicians and treats 180,000 patients, including 26,000 Medicare managed-care patients, in the Albuquerque region.

“ABQ Health Partners is exactly the type of partner we value,” said HealthCare Partners Chairman and CEO Dr. Robert Margolis in the news release. “They have a proud history of innovation, strong talent and a commitment to patient-centered care. And they focus on supporting physicians to provide outstanding care in the same way we do.”

Earlier this year, DaVita, the Denver-based provider of kidney-care services, announced plans to acquire HealthCare Partners in a $4.42 billion deal. The acquisition, which was granted early termination approval by the Federal Trade Commission in July, is expected to close by the end of the year.

The deal with ABQ Health Partners marks HealthCare Partners' entry into New Mexico. The privately held company has a presence in the California, Florida and Nevada markets and operates three of the 32 CMS Pioneer ACOs.

HealthCare Partners said in the news release that the organizations had actively explored a deal for more than a year and ABQ Health Partners will operate as a subsidiary of HealthCare Partners.