Tenet Healthcare has reached an agreement under which it will regain complete control of Conifer Health Solutions, its revenue cycle management company. CommonSpirit Health, which previously held a 23.8% equity stake in Conifer, is exiting that arrangement effective January 1.
Under the terms of the agreement, as reported in a February 2 Tenet news release:
- CommonSpirit will pay approximately $1.9 billion to Tenet over the next three years.
- Conifer will pay roughly $540 million to CommonSpirit to redeem CommonSpirit’s 23.8% ownership interest in Conifer.
Although CommonSpirit is stepping away from its equity role, Conifer will continue to provide revenue cycle management services to CommonSpirit through the end of 2026. That means Conifer will remain deeply embedded in a large portion of the U.S. hospital landscape, handling complex billing, claims, and collections processes that directly impact hospital financial health.
From a business standpoint, Tenet’s decision to fully own Conifer again gives it more freedom to shape strategy, invest in new technology, and expand services. This type of financial and operational stability at large health systems frequently correlates with increased capacity to hire nurses including international nurses who require immigration sponsorship.
Why Revenue Cycle Management Matters for Nurse Hiring
Revenue cycle management (RCM) is often seen as a “back office” function, but it directly affects a hospital’s ability to invest in patient care and staffing. When RCM is efficient and optimized:
- Hospitals collect payment faster and more reliably
- Financial forecasts become more accurate
- Leadership is more confident in making long-term hiring commitments
CommonSpirit’s executive vice president and CFO, Michael Browning, emphasized in the release that Conifer has been a “strong and reliable revenue cycle partner since 2012,” especially in standardizing practices across the former Catholic Health Initiatives environment. According to Browning, Conifer’s work helped those hospitals consistently achieve 100% of their cash collection goals a major indicator of financial stability.
Financially stable systems are far more likely to:
- Approve long-term nurse recruitment strategies
- Sponsor work visas and green cards for foreign-educated nurses
- Expand clinical services in high-demand areas such as critical care, med-surg, and long-term care
For healthcare employers, this means that improved revenue cycle performance can make it easier to justify the legal and administrative investment needed to sponsor international nurses through employment-based immigration pathways.
Conifer’s Next Chapter: AI, Automation, and Global Operations
Tenet has indicated that regaining full control of Conifer will enable it to better support Conifer’s long-term growth and innovation. Conifer plans to expand its investments in artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and global operating capabilities.
These developments are important for several reasons:
1. AI and Automation in Healthcare Finance
By incorporating AI and automation into billing, coding, and claims management, Conifer can help hospitals:
- Reduce denials and billing errors
- Shorten the time to payment
- Improve overall revenue predictability
When hospital leadership sees predictable, reliable cash flow, they are more likely to invest in:
- Nurse staffing stabilization
- Reducing reliance on short-term travel nurses
- Long-term workforce planning that includes international nurse recruitment
2. Global Operating Capabilities and International Talent
Conifer’s focus on global operations aligns with broader trends in healthcare: more cross-border collaboration, international outsourcing of certain administrative functions, and a growing reliance on global talent. While Conifer itself focuses on the financial side of healthcare, its global mindset reflects the broader reality that U.S. healthcare depends heavily on international professionals, especially nurses.
For hospitals and health systems, this global orientation can support:
- Building international recruitment pipelines
- Preparing HR and credentialing teams to work with foreign-educated nurses
- Aligning operational processes with the needs of visa-sponsored employees
As an immigration law firm specializing in international nurse recruitment, VisaMadeEZ regularly works with hospitals that are modernizing their internal systems while expanding global hiring strategies.
How This Affects International Nurse Recruitment
While Tenet’s reacquisition of Conifer doesn’t directly change U.S. immigration laws, it does create an environment where large hospital systems may be better positioned to strategically plan for long-term staffing. That can directly impact international nurses seeking employment-based visas.
Potential Implications for Healthcare Employers
Hospitals and health systems that benefit from more efficient revenue cycle management may:
- Expand residency and orientation programs for foreign-educated nurses
- Offer more employment opportunities in specialties facing acute shortages
- Increase use of employment-based green cards (EB-3, Schedule A) for nurses
- Have more resources to manage the documentation and compliance required for visa sponsorship
At VisaMadeEZ, we often see that hospitals with strong revenue cycle performance are:
- More prepared to support long-term immigration processes
- Less hesitant about the legal cost and timeline associated with nurse sponsorship
- Better able to create internal infrastructure to support foreign nurses (onboarding, licensure, compliance)
What This Means for International Nurses
For international nurses looking to practice in the U.S., developments like this can eventually translate to:
- More stable employer-sponsors
- Better-funded clinical environments
- Increased availability of immigration sponsorship opportunities
If you are a nurse abroad considering work in the U.S., or a healthcare employer looking to recruit internationally, it’s essential to partner with professionals who understand both the healthcare landscape and the complexities of U.S. immigration law.
How VisaMadeEZ Helps Healthcare Organizations Hire International Nurses
VisaMadeEZ focuses exclusively on immigration solutions for the healthcare sector, with a particular emphasis on helping hospitals, health systems, long-term care facilities, and staffing agencies hire and sponsor international nurses.
We assist healthcare employers with:
- Developing a long-term immigration strategy aligned with financial and staffing goals
- Sponsoring nurses through EB-3 (Schedule A), H-1B (when applicable), and other employment-based visas
- Ensuring immigration compliance in coordination with HR, legal, and credentialing teams
- Navigating state licensure, VisaScreen, and related regulatory requirements
We also support international nurses by:
- Explaining visa options and realistic timelines
- Coordinating with U.S. employers interested in sponsorship
- Helping navigate each step from job offer to arrival in the U.S.
As health systems like Tenet and CommonSpirit refine their financial and operational structures, opportunities may expand for globally sourced nursing talent. Positioning your organization now both financially and legally can help you attract and retain the international nurses you need in a competitive market.
Moving Forward
Tenet’s decision to regain full ownership of Conifer Health Solutions, paired with Conifer’s focus on AI, automation, and global capabilities, underscores a broader trend: U.S. healthcare organizations are modernizing their infrastructure to remain financially strong and operationally efficient. That modernization often goes hand-in-hand with strategic, long-term workforce planning including international nurse recruitment and visa sponsorship.
If your hospital or healthcare organization is planning to:
- Expand your nursing workforce
- Build a sustainable pipeline of international nurses
- Align immigration strategy with your financial and operational goals
VisaMadeEZ can help.
Contact VisaMadeEZ to discuss how we can support your organization in hiring international nurses, navigating complex U.S. immigration processes, and building a stable, globally sourced nursing workforce that aligns with your long-term strategic vision.
