Department Of Justice & Four States Sue To Block UnitedHealth Group Acquisition Of Amedisys

The federal Department of Justice with the Attorneys General of Maryland, Illinois, New Jersey, and New York, filed a civil antitrust lawsuit today to block UnitedHealth Group’s proposed $3.3 billion acquisition of Amedisys, which provides home health and hospice services. The antitrust complaint alleges that because UnitedHealth already owns LHC Group, Inc., which also provides home health and hospice services, allowing the acquisition of its competitor Amedisys would eliminate competition in the home health and hospice industry. Currently LHC Group and Amedysis compete for insurer and consumer business.

If the merger were to be completed, UnitedHealth’s market . . .