WVU Health System and Independence Health System Announce Plan for Independence Health System to join WVU Medicine
CHICAGO IL, November 19, 2025 – The West Virginia University Health System and Independence Health System announced today (Nov. 19) their intent for Independence Health System’s five hospitals – Butler Memorial, Clarion, Frick, Latrobe, and Westmoreland Hospitals – along with its affiliated physician groups, and other subsidiaries to join the WVU Health System in the fall of 2026 and operate under the WVU Medicine brand.
As part of the agreement, the WVU Health System will commit $800 million over the next five years to modernize Independence Health System’s hospitals, including the Butler Memorial Hospital emergency room and the Westmoreland Hospital campus; grow clinical services; and expand access to high-quality care across the community it serves. The transaction is subject to customary state and federal regulatory reviews, as well as bondholder consent.
Kaufman Hall served as Independence Health System's exclusive strategic and financial advisor.
