Private Equity's Autism Empire: Hopebridge's Rapid Takeover
Source: fortune.com
- Private equity-backed Hopebridge Centers rapidly expands autism therapy clinics nationwide, buying up competitors.
- The chain now operates over 100 locations serving thousands of kids, fueled by $500 million in funding.
- Critics worry this consolidation squeezes out smaller providers and prioritizes profits over patient care.
Hopebridge, a for-profit chain of autism therapy centers backed by private equity firms, has aggressively expanded by acquiring rivals and opening new sites across the U.S. The company treats young children with autism spectrum disorder through applied behavior analysis, or ABA, a therapy involving one-on-one sessions to teach skills. This growth raises questions about whether private equity's focus on scale and returns could harm access to care for vulnerable families and smaller, independent p