Missouri hospital system completes deal to enter Arkansas

Just a few months after reaching a definitive agreement, the Freeman Health System says it has completed the acquisition of Northwest Health in Arkansas.

Freeman Health System announced Monday that it has finalized the purchase of Northwest Health and its four hospitals and associated facilities. Freeman acquired Northwest in a transaction with Community Health Systems, Inc., a for-profit system based in Franklin, Tennessee. CHS previously said the hospitals were sold for $112 million.

With the completion of the deal, Freeman now has a foothold in Arkansas for the first time.

Matthew Fry, president and CEO of Freeman Health System, said the acquisition of Northwest Health fits into the system’s strategy of having a bigger impact in the region.

“Welcoming Northwest Health into the Freeman network supports our commitment to long-term growth and enhances our ability to provide compassionate, coordinated care across a broader regional footprint,” Fry said in a statement. “Northwest Health’s hospitals and care teams bring tremendous strength to our organization, and together, we’re elevating care delivery, expanding access to essential services, and investing in the health of the people and communities who rely on us every day.”

The health system says the addition of Northwest Health fits squarely within its “Freeman Forward” strategic plan to improve access to healthcare in Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Arkansas.

Northwest Arkansas is an increasingly appealing market as the region draws more residents.

The region added nearly 15,000 new residents between 2024 and 2025, and the area’s population has jumped 41% since 2010, according to the Northwest Arkansas Council.

“As one of the fastest-growing regions in the U.S., Northwest Arkansas sits at the center of powerful economic forces, with leading retail, food, and logistics companies driving sustained population growth,” Fry said.

In the deal, Freeman acquired these hospitals in northwest Arkansas: Northwest Medical Center-Bentonville, a 128-bed facility in Bentonville; Northwest Medical Center-Springdale, a 222-bed facility in Springdale; Willow Creek Women’s Hospital, a 64-bed facility in Johnson; and Siloam Springs Regional Hospital, a 73-bed facility in Siloam Springs.

Freeman says the system has a number of long-term goals to improve and expand healthcare services in northwest Arkansas.

Those plans include adding mental health and substance use services; expanded access to maternal care; and increased specialty care services, including cardiology, cancer care, and orthopedics.

Freeman says patients will continue to see their same providers, and the system says there will be no changes to insurance plans that are accepted.

The system says updates on the names of the Northwest Health facilities will be shared in the coming months.

Another Arkansas hospital recently changed ownership. In March, Baptist Memorial Health Care in Tennessee completed the acquisition of Arkansas Methodist Medical Center, a 129-bed hospital based in Paragould.

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