Catholic Medical Center (CMC) is pleased to announce, after a comprehensive regulatory review process, the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office has granted the necessary approvals for the transaction, paving the way for CMC to join HCA Healthcare, one of the nation’s leading healthcare providers.
Securing regulatory approval enables CMC to continue delivering world-class, Catholic healthcare to the Greater Manchester area for generations to come. Under HCA Healthcare’s leadership, CMC will expand and grow its high-quality healthcare services in New Hampshire. CMC colleagues join more than 2,500 HCA Healthcare colleagues currently serving patients at Portsmouth Regional Hospital, Frisbie Memorial Hospital and Parkland Medical Center, among other sites of care in New Hampshire. The transaction is expected to close in the coming weeks.
“After an extensive, multi-year effort to secure the future of CMC, we are excited to partner with HCA Healthcare, a proven leader in delivering high-quality healthcare in New Hampshire for over 40 years,” stated Alex Walker, President & CEO of CMC. “This partnership guarantees the preservation of Catholic healthcare while enhancing our ability to serve the community. We are grateful to the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office for their thorough review, to the Diocese of Manchester for their invaluable guidance and to our Board of Trustees for their vision and leadership throughout this process. With HCA Healthcare, CMC’s legacy of excellence will not only endure but flourish—expanding access to care, enhancing services, and remaining deeply rooted in our Catholic mission."
Since September 2023, leadership from CMC and HCA Healthcare have worked toward an agreement for CMC to join HCA Healthcare. A key component of the agreement is the creation of the Catholic Health Care Foundation of Greater Manchester, a new not-for-profit foundation under the control of the Bishop of Manchester and a local board of directors, improving the health and well-being of the citizens of Manchester. The foundation will continue to support vital community programs, such as Healthcare for the Homeless and the Poisson Dental Facility. In addition, as part of the agreement, HCA Healthcare has pledged to maintain the Catholic identity of CMC and a $200-million capital commitment that will modernize infrastructure that will allow for the continuation and expansion of key clinical services, including the New England Heart & Vascular Institute, emergency department, trauma services, oncology, behavioral health, women’s services and more.
“Over the past 15 months, countless individuals have worked tirelessly to secure a strong and sustainable future for CMC and the communities we serve,” said Tim Riley, Chair of CMC’s Board of Trustees. “This partnership with HCA Healthcare represents a defining moment for Manchester and all of New Hampshire. It ensures access to high-quality care close to home, preserves our Catholic mission and positions CMC to grow and adapt to the evolving needs of our patients. We are confident this decision will strengthen healthcare throughout the region for years to come.”
“We are thrilled CMC will join the HCA Healthcare family and for this next bright chapter in CMC’s history providing health, healing and hope to the Manchester community,” stated Dr. William Lunn, President of HCA Healthcare’s Capital Division. “As part of HCA Healthcare, CMC and our new colleagues will have access to much-needed resources that will pave the way for financial stability and continued growth. We are committed to making significant capital investments and enhancing key service lines that will benefit not only Manchester patients but patients across New Hampshire with expanded choice and ensure they have the highest-quality care available close to home.”
Statement from the Most Reverend Peter A. Libasci, D.D., Bishop of Manchester
“I am most grateful to God for the selfless work that has been done to ensure the longevity of Catholic healthcare in New Hampshire. In particular, I offer my sincere thanks to the leadership and Board of Trustees of Catholic Medical Center and to the leaders of HCA Healthcare for their dedication to this vital mission. No less do I extend my sincere gratitude to Attorney General John Formella and his staff for their careful consideration of this partnership, and to all who attended and thoughtfully participated in the public listening session and public hearing. We may look forward now to a strong, vigorous, Catholic hospital on Manchester’s West Side and Catholic healthcare throughout the State of New Hampshire. My prayers and witness as Bishop of the Diocese of Manchester will continue, as will those of my successors.”
Learn more: NH Attorney General’s Office press release>