High interest rates and increased regulatory scrutiny were just two factors contributing to an exceptionally slow M&A market in 2023 for the healthcare industry. Will 2024 be better? Will investors find confidence in lower interest rates or hold their hands until after the presidential election? Industry news outlet Healthcare Finance turned to Akerman Healthcare Practice Chair Robert Slavkin and Partner Jordan Cohen for their predictions.

Slavkin noted that while deals were down last year, things did start to pick up in the last quarter.

"The second half of the calendar year there was a marked increase in the number of deals," Slavkin told Healthcare Finance. "The first six-to-eight months of the year it was slow. In September it began to pick up."

"The elephant in the room is interest rates in 2024," Cohen added. "I've seen potential acquisition targets hesitant with such a lower valuation. Folks aren't willing to pay crazy growth rates."