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Shining a light on PE ownership.

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AC

Acadia Healthcare

healthcare
PE-OWNED

Behavioral healthcare facility operator.

PE-OWNED

Acquired by KKR2011-05-01

View PE Firm Profile

What Made It Great

“

Providing mental health and addiction treatment services.

What PE Will Likely Do

Predictions

Staffing reductions at Acadia's behavioral healthcare facilities, with a shift towards lower-cost nursing staff (LPNs and aides) instead of registered nurses (RNs)

HIGH LIKELIHOODBased on: KKR's track record of cost-cutting and debt-loading tactics in previous healthcare acquisitions

Sale-leaseback transactions of Acadia's real estate assets, potentially leading to higher facility rental costs that are passed on to patients

HIGH LIKELIHOODBased on: The industry playbook of common private equity tactics in the healthcare sector, which align with the specific changes predicted for Acadia

Aggressive billing practices, such as upcoding for higher-reimbursement procedures and diagnoses, which could result in higher out-of-pocket costs for patients

HIGH LIKELIHOODBased on: The high likelihood of staffing reductions, real estate transactions, billing upcoding, and service line cuts based on the frequency of these tactics in the industry

Elimination of unprofitable but essential services, such as psychiatric or addiction treatment programs, leading to reduced access to comprehensive care for patients

HIGH LIKELIHOODBased on: The high likelihood of staffing reductions, real estate transactions, billing upcoding, and service line cuts based on the frequency of these tactics in the industry

Increased management fees and consulting charges that divert resources away from direct patient care

HIGH LIKELIHOODBased on: The high likelihood of staffing reductions, real estate transactions, billing upcoding, and service line cuts based on the frequency of these tactics in the industry

Expected Timeline

Phases
0-6 monthsCompleted

“0 to 6 months months”

Announcement of 'optimization' initiatives, changes in Acadia's leadership team

6-12 monthsYOU ARE HERE

“6 to 12 months months”

Staffing cuts begin, with a focus on reducing nursing staff and shifting towards less-qualified personnel

12-24 months

“12 to 24 months months”

Patients notice longer wait times, reduced availability of specialized services, and a decline in the overall quality of care

24-36 months

“24 to 36 months months”

Potential closure of certain Acadia facilities, quality scandals, and increased patient dissatisfaction

36+ months

“36+ months months”

Possible bankruptcy or sale of Acadia to another operator, further disrupting patient care

Similar Cases

Other companies that followed a similar path after PE acquisition

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Cerberus Capital Management·2010

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Envision Healthcare

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US Dermatology Partners

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Hahnemann University Hospital

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Sound Physicians

Summit Partners·2019

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What You Can Do

Take Action

Actions

  • Monitor any changes in the quality of care, staffing levels, and availability of services at your local Acadia facility

  • Be vigilant about billing practices and carefully review any charges or diagnoses to ensure they are accurate

  • Advocate for the preservation of essential behavioral health services in your community and hold Acadia accountable for maintaining high-quality care

  • Consider seeking care from alternative providers if Acadia's services significantly deteriorate or become inaccessible

Alternatives

Non-profit health systemsSAFE

Community-focused healthcare

Kaiser PermanenteSAFE

Integrated managed care consortium

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"Acadia Healthcare is now PE-owned. Here's what that means for you."