It seems that all service providers to the healthcare industry are “in play” as the pace of M&A transactions continues to increase, according to the PCE Industry Report—Healthcare.

The report reveals that transaction volume through the halfway mark of 2015 softened slightly on a rolling 12-month basis (1,348 transactions compared to 1,412 at the same point in 2014). “Despite the decline, this level of activity greatly exceeds the volume of transactions seen historically, as the current rate of M&A is more than twice the annual pace seen as recently as 2011 and 2012,” says the report.

The healthcare services and e-health technology sectors continue to lead the industry with the highest number of transactions. Consolidation of physician practices both large and small continues, and the small practices are also being targeted by local hospital-based systems or one of the nationally focused specialty practice consolidators.