Print HCA Healthcare and University Health didn't see a way to meaningfully expand their market share in the competitive Atlanta market, leading to a string of recent hospital deals that are poised to benefit Piedmont Healthcare, merger and acquisition experts said. Piedmont will add seven hospitals to its current 11-hospital footprint via back-to-back transactions, courtesy of HCA and University Health. HCA sold its last Atlanta-area hospital to AdventHealth Thursday. The profitable Atlanta-area hospitals will increase the not-for-profit health system's negotiating power with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia, allow it to grow its service lines and spread its fixed costs over a wider asset base, M&A experts said. Meanwhile, HCA and University Health can exit or partner in markets they were unlikely to lead on their own while receiving a return on their investment, they said.