Nov. 28, 2025
— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
Sometimes bigger isn’t always better.
Two organizations with Lehigh Valley ties were absorbed by bigger outfits in 2024. Jefferson Health of Philadelphia took over Lehigh Valley Health Network, and Six Flags gobbled up Cedar Fair, owner of Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in South Whitehall Township.
The results haven’t been good so far. The new Six Flags amusement company has stumbled financially, while LVHN is now just a brand of Jefferson.
Here’s what Six Flags was slinging on July 1, 2024, the day the deal was complete:
“Today marks a significant milestone for our company, shareholders, guests and associates, unlocking higher value and greater opportunities to deliver engaging entertainment experiences,” said Richard Zimmerman, president and chief executive officer of Six Flags Entertainment.
Zimmerman is now about to be the former CEO, to be succeeded by John Reilly.
Financial results have failed to meet expectations, parks suffered from bad weather, and the company is talking about selling properties. That’s all in little more than a year.
Is that “unlocking higher value?”
Sum it up via the stock price. Six Flags shares (NYSE:FUN) were trading at $15.31 at 10:35 a.m. today, less than a third of the $49.77 52-week high.
On the not-for-profit side, we have the hospital deal.
Here’s what Jefferson Health had to say Aug. 1, 2024, about the Philadelphia chain’s consumption of LVHN:
“We are delighted to bring these two incredible organizations together as we look ahead at all the good we will do for the communities we’re privileged to serve,” said Joseph G. Cacchione, MD, Chief Executive Officer, Jefferson.
The statement went on and on, but so far the results have not been great even though they were delighted last year.
In August, Becker’s Hospital Review said Jefferson posted a $196 million operating loss for fiscal 2025.
In September of this year, Jefferson announced a plan to use Artificial Intelligence “designed to reclaim more than 10 million hours of clinician time by 2028.” Jefferson said its plan would reduce wait times and ensure more face-to-face interaction.
Fewer faces to interact with, though, as Jefferson cut a reported 650 or so jobs a month later.
Of the two big deals, Six Flags looks like the worse of the two. Remember, the company is not really in the amusement-park business. It’s in the real estate business, and it’s shown that when there’s more value in development than in giving rides and selling soda, it will make deals.
As for Jefferson, some job cuts are common after a deal goes through, but the big operating loss is a warning.
Some of Jefferson’s problems may be external, such as in government reimbursements, but the hospital executives are paid the big bucks because they’re supposed to see what’s coming.
Maybe they did see it, and made the LVHN deal as a way to spread the pain out.
Now Jefferson’s LVHN brand is talking about cutting off United Healthcare patients.
Here’s a statement from Jefferson:
United refuses to pay LVHN in accordance with the rates and expectations that were originally agreed upon. We have worked tirelessly to reach a resolution with United, but they’re not interested in finding a fair solution for our patients.
As a result, we have made the decision to terminate LVHN’s contract with UnitedHealthcare unless UnitedHealthcare works with Jefferson Health to remedy the LVHN reimbursement issues. At this time, other Jefferson Health providers – those serving the Philadelphia metropolitan area and surrounding counties – will remain in network with UnitedHealthcare.
Nothing will change until January 25, 2026 for Medicare Advantage patients and April 25, 2026 for commercial patients, and we recommend that patients keep scheduled treatments and appointments at LVHN until that time.
We encourage UnitedHealthcare members to contact UnitedHealthcare to understand their coverage options and advocate for continued access to Jefferson Health and LVHN providers.
I like the last part. I’m supposed to “advocate for continued access to Jefferson Health and LVHN providers.”
Should I call and say, “Hello, my name is Jeff Ward and I live in Bethlehem and I really want you to settle this.” That should do it, right?
That’s not my job. That’s for Jefferson and LVHN to do. This is gamesmanship that we’ve seen before.
Jefferson gave CEO Cacchione a five-year extension back in May.
Do your job. Get on it and stop whining.
Lehigh Valley News Briefs 
While the Six Flags name was retained, and in theory it was larger, the Cedar Fair side of the ledger is what drove the deal and it believed that its management (most of which assumed the major positions in the combined entity, including headquarters location) could bring the sickly Six Flags to a healthy Cedar Fair financial standing. Instead, the whole new entity got sick…
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