Adena Health Acquires Fairfield Medical Center After FTC Antitrust Review

The development follows broader federal scrutiny of OhioHealth’s expansion in central Ohio.

Adena Health has completed its acquisition of Fairfield Medical Center (FMC), months after federal regulators raised antitrust concerns over the hospital’s proposed merger with OhioHealth, the largest health system in Ohio.

The deal, which closed Tuesday, creates Adena Fairfield Medical Center. The acquisition follows an investigation by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which determined that Fairfield’s proposed transaction with OhioHealth could violate antitrust guidelines and negatively affect healthcare costs and quality.

The FTC said Fairfield and OhioHealth abandoned their merger plans after regulators encouraged Fairfield to consider alternative buyers. FMC subsequently received interest from multiple potential buyers before announcing a letter of intent with Adena Health on June 1.

The development follows broader federal scrutiny of OhioHealth’s expansion in central Ohio. The Columbus-based health system has pursued FMC since 2024 and formally announced plans to acquire the Lancaster, Ohio-based hospital in November 2025.

On Feb. 20, the FTC filed a lawsuit against OhioHealth, alleging that the system used its market position to impose anticompetitive contract terms on insurers. Regulators said OhioHealth pressured insurers to include its hospitals in commercial networks, potentially limiting access to lower-cost plans offered by competing hospitals.

The FTC also investigated OhioHealth’s proposed acquisition of FMC and subsequently pushed the hospital to explore other options.

FTC officials said the agency’s intervention demonstrates its willingness to challenge hospital transactions that could reduce competition. Daniel Guarnera, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition, said the agency would work to identify alternative buyers and pursue legal action when necessary to block deals it considers anticompetitive.

Fairfield Medical Center had faced financial challenges in recent years, including an operating loss of more than $37 million in 2025.

Adena Health President and CEO Kathi Edrington said the newly formed Adena Fairfield Medical Center will expand the system’s presence as it continues providing care in the region.

OhioHealth said it supports Fairfield Medical Center’s decision to proceed with another partner after regulatory hurdles prevented its planned transaction.

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