Second Thoughts About Consolidation?

There has been a record amount of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in health and human services over the past few years driven by ‘mega deal’ consolidation and private equity infusion—with the number of deals up 14% in 2020 and 42% in 2021 in the U.S. market, valued at $223 billion and $349 billion respectively (see Global M&A Industry Trends in Health Industries and Health Care Merger & Acquisition Volume Up 56% In 2021 Over 2020).

Throughout all these mergers, there was little intervention by the federal government. Then two developments hit the news this . . .