Released: June 10, 2025
Bill passes PA House 121-82, would allow PA AG to Block Certain Private Equity Transactions
Delaware County, PA — Delaware County Council today applauded the passage of House Bill 1460 in the PA House of Representatives. The bill would allow the PA Attorney General to block private equity and other for-profit entities from buying hospitals and other healthcare facilities. The bill was sponsored by Representative Lisa Borowski (D-168) and was strongly supported by the Delaware County delegation in the General Assembly.
“Private equity has no place in healthcare,” said Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor. “While Prospect Medical Holdings may have turned their back on our community, our County team and—crucially—our Delco delegation in the General Assembly never has and never will. I’m proud we have people like them to serve our residents.”
The bill passed in the wake of Prospect Medical Holdings’ decision to close their remaining hospitals in Delaware County, Crozer-Chester Medical Center and Taylor Hospital. Those closures left Delaware County with just two remaining hospitals, after Prospect earlier closed Delaware County Memorial Hospital and Springfield Hospital.
“Not long ago, our county had 6 great hospitals to serve our 576,000 residents,” said Delaware County Council Vice-Chair Richard Womack. "Now we have just two. It’s no coincidence that those two remaining hospitals are non-profits. Healthcare should not be a for-profit industry, and I support the work of our Delco delegation to protect our residents.”
While PA House Bill 1460 passed for the 2025-2026 session of the General Assembly, this is not the first time an effort was made at the state-level to regulate private equity and other for-profit entities acquiring healthcare facilities. A previous version of the bill passed the PA House of Representatives before failing to pass in the PA Senate.
“We don’t have to wonder what the effects are of private equity in healthcare,” said Delaware County Council Member Elaine Paul Schaefer. “We’ve known how dangerous these groups can be. They closed our hospitals this year, and they closed two more before that in 2022. We desperately need protection at the state level, so this stops happening in other communities. None of our residents deserve to be treated this way just so private equity executives can profit.”
“I strongly support greater oversight at the state level of these kinds of for-profit transactions,” said Delaware County Council Member Christine Reuther. “When communities are harmed the way Delaware County has been harmed by for-profit healthcare, we need greater oversight.”
“My thanks go out to our Delaware County delegation in Harrisburg, and not just to Rep. Borowski but to everyone who co-sponsored and supported this legislation,” said Delaware County Council Member Kevin Madden. “The County can’t respond to this crisis on our own, and luckily, we don’t have to. Our delegation has been steadfast partners through this entire transition, and I’m proud we have them in our corner.”