AmiCare Behavioral Announces Agreement with Acadia Healthcare

Publicly traded Acadia Healthcare Co. Inc. of Franklin, Tenn., has agreed to buy AmiCare Behavioral Centers LLC of Fayetteville for $113 million, according to a news release issued Tuesday.

AmiCare is the largest provider of behavioral health services in western Arkansas, according to its own release, and does business as Vista Health. Vista Health inpatient psychiatric treatment facilities are located in Fayetteville, Fort Smith and Texarkana.

AmiCare also operates Piney Ridge Center, a residential treatment facility in Fayetteville, Ridgeview Group Home in Springdale and eight other outpatient treatment centers throughout western Arkansas.

“All management, physicians and employees will remain in place,” AmiCare chairman and CEO Kyle Naples wrote in an emailed response to questions. “Acadia is a national leader in providing behavioral services. I’m confident that our community and patients will continue to receive the same standards for quality behavioral health care under Acadia’s ownership and direction.”

Naples also indicated the deal is expected to be finalized by Dec. 31, and that Stephens Inc. is acting as financial advisor to AmiCare. AmiCare currently has 1,036 employees, Naples wrote.

In its release, Acadia stated the AmiCare facilities generated revenue of $61.7 million for the twelve months ended Sept. 30. Acadia, which also announced the $145 million purchase of Behavioral Centers of America, currently operates 34 behavioral health facilities in 20 states, with a total of 2,500 licensed beds.

According to Tuesday’s release, the deals will increase Acadia’s number of patient beds by about 25 percent.