MUSC Board of Trustees Votes to Purchase Palmetto Primary Care Physicians

At a special meeting of the Medical University Hospital Authority (MUHA) Board of Trustees held March 2, the board voted unanimously to have MUHA, part of MUSC Health, purchase all membership interests in Palmetto Primary Care Physicians (PPCP), for $111 million, effective March 3. With the acquisition, PPCP will become a not-for-profit entity within the MUSC Health family.

PPCP is the state’s largest independent multispecialty care practice. It includes 31 physicians, 95 advanced practitioners, and 40 medical practices, including physical therapy, urgent care and other specialty clinics across the Lowcountry, Midlands, and Myrtle Beach. Since 1996, the organization has been known for its leadership in value‑based care, its commitment to excellent patient outcomes and its longstanding community presence.

The combined organization will improve MUSC’s primary care capacity as MUSC Health works to meet rising patient demand and build healthier communities throughout South Carolina.

“South Carolina faces a significant shortage of primary care physicians, and strengthening access to high‑quality, community‑based primary care is essential to MUSC Health’s mission,” said Patrick J. Cawley, M.D., CEO, MUSC Health and executive vice president for Health Affairs, University. “We have worked closely for years with PPCP’s outstanding providers, and their proven value‑based care model makes them an ideal partner. Together, we will expand access, improve outcomes, support the next generation of clinicians through enhanced training opportunities and grow research and innovation.”

“This transaction ensures long‑term stability for our physicians, specialists and staff while allowing us to expand the services our communities rely on,” said Mark Redwine, M.D., president of the PPCP board. “Joining MUSC Health provides the scale, infrastructure and academic partnership needed to expand access and deliver even stronger value‑based care. We are very excited about this partnership and believe it will greatly benefit our patients and enhance our care delivery system.”