Ascension Mercy in Aurora To Be Sold: Reports

AURORA, IL — Ascension Mercy in Aurora is one of 13 Ascension hospitals being sold to Prime Healthcare, WJOL reported on Thursday.

Based in California, Prime Healthcare operates 44 hospitals in 14 states.

According to a news release from Prime Healthcare, the company has entered into a purchase agreement for the sale of "Ascension Illinois hospitals, associated physician practices, post-acute and senior living facilities." WJOL reported that hospital staff was set to be notified during a conference call on Thursday.

The deal includes nine Ascension hospitals in Illinois, including Ascension Holy Family in Des Plaines, Ascension St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, Ascension St. Francis in Evanston and hospitals in Elgin, Chicago and Kankakee. Also being sold senior living facilities, including Fox Knoll Village in Aurora, Villa Franciscan in Joliet and Resurrection Place in Park Ridge.

On its website, Prime touts its ranking by Newsweek as one of America's Greatest Workplaces for 2024.

"Prime Healthcare is an award-winning health system operating 44 hospitals and more than 300 outpatient locations in 14 states, providing over 2.6 million patient visits annually," the company said.

Despite its accolades, Prime Healthcare and two of its doctors were ordered in 2021 to pay $37.5 million to settle "allegations of kickbacks, billing for a suspended doctor, and false claims for implantable medical hardware," the Department of Justice said.

The settlement was with Prime, its founded Dr. Prem Reddy and a California-based cardiologist. Prime and Reddy previously paid $65 million to settle previous unrelated allegations of false claims and overbilling in 2018, the DOJ said.

Asked whether Prime intends to keep all the Illinois hospitals open, a spokesperson told the Chicago Tribune, "Prime is committed to the long-term success and service of every hospital that is part of our system and has never closed a hospital."