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Waud Capital Partners

healthcare
PE-OWNED

Owns behavioral health facilities and substance abuse treatment centers.

PE-OWNED

Acquired by Bain Capital2019-09-12

View PE Firm Profile

What Made It Great

Specialized behavioral health and addiction treatment services

What PE Will Likely Do

Waud Capital Partners will likely cut staffing at their behavioral health and addiction treatment facilities, replacing registered nurses (RNs) with less-skilled licensed practical nurses (LPNs) or nursing assistants to reduce labor costs.

HIGH LIKELIHOODBased on: Bain Capital's track record of cost-cutting and operational changes that often lead to declining service quality and consumer harm.

Waud Capital Partners will likely sell the real estate of their treatment centers and then lease the facilities back, extracting equity for their investors while increasing facility rental costs.

HIGH LIKELIHOODBased on: The healthcare industry playbook that indicates high frequencies of staffing reductions, real estate sale-leasebacks, billing upcoding, and service line cuts by private equity firms.

Waud Capital Partners will likely aggressively code for higher-reimbursement procedures and diagnoses, even if they do not accurately reflect the care provided, in order to maximize insurance reimbursements.

HIGH LIKELIHOODBased on: The timeline of changes typically seen in PE-owned healthcare companies, with initial cosmetic changes followed by staffing cuts, service quality declines, and eventual major issues.

Waud Capital Partners will likely eliminate unprofitable but essential services like psychiatric care or specialized addiction treatment programs in order to improve their bottom line.

HIGH LIKELIHOODBased on: The timeline of changes typically seen in PE-owned healthcare companies, with initial cosmetic changes followed by staffing cuts, service quality declines, and eventual major issues.

Expected Timeline

0-6 monthsCompleted

0 to 6 months months

Waud Capital Partners will likely make cosmetic changes and announce 'optimization' efforts, while shuffling the leadership team.

6-12 monthsYOU ARE HERE

6 to 12 months months

Staffing cuts will begin under the guise of 'efficiency' programs, and Waud Capital Partners will review their service offerings to identify potential cuts.

12-24 months

12 to 24 months months

Patients at Waud Capital Partners' facilities will likely notice a decline in service quality, with longer wait times and less personalized care.

24-36 months

24 to 36 months months

Major issues are likely to emerge, such as the closure of certain treatment departments or high-profile quality scandals.

36+ months

36+ months months

Waud Capital Partners' facilities may face potential bankruptcy, closures, or be sold off to another operator at a steep discount.

Similar Cases

Other companies that followed a similar path after PE acquisition

What You Can Do

Actions

  • Patients and families should be vigilant for any changes in the quality of care, staffing levels, or available services at Waud Capital Partners' facilities.

  • Consumers should research alternative behavioral health and addiction treatment options in their area that are not owned by private equity firms.

  • Patients should advocate for maintaining high-quality, evidence-based care and resist any attempts by Waud Capital Partners to cut corners or compromise on essential services.

Alternatives

Non-profit health systemsSAFE

Community-focused healthcare

Kaiser PermanenteSAFE

Integrated managed care consortium

Share this company's PE status

"Waud Capital Partners is now PE-owned. Here's what that means for you."