LVHN and Jefferson Health to Merge, Creating a Mega 30-Hospital Network

Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) and Jefferson Health have announced plans to merge, aiming to create an integrated care delivery system that would expand access to care for patients in the Lehigh Valley. The merger would result in a network with a national research university, an expanded not-for-profit health plan, 30 hospitals, over 700 outpatient sites, and more than 62,000 employed faculty, clinicians, and staff across eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey. The merger is motivated by LVHN's desire to become part of Jefferson Health's integrated delivery and financing system, which aims to reduce waste in medical spending, improve coordination of care, and increase access to care. The merger is subject to further negotiations, regulatory approvals, and closing conditions.