Justice Department sues to block UnitedHealth Group's $3.3 billion purchase of Amedisys

Justice Department sues to block UnitedHealth Group's $3.3 billion purchase of Amedisys 
The Minnesota Star Tribune; by The Associated Press; 11/12/24 
The Justice Department is suing to block UnitedHealth Group's $3.3 billion purchase of Amedisys, citing concerns the combination would hinder access to home health and hospice services in the U.S. The antitrust complaint was filed in Maryland federal court Tuesday. In a statement, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said the government is challenging UnitedHealth and Amedisys' proposed merger because ''patients and their families experiencing some of the most difficult moments of their lives deserve affordable, high quality care options.'' The suit follows UnitedHealth's acquisition of LHC Group Inc., another home health and hospice provider. Since that transaction's completion last year, the Justice Department said, UnitedHealth and Amedisys have emerged as the two largest providers of home health and hospice care in the country. The department argues that eliminating competition between UnitedHealth and Amedisys ''would harm patients who receive home health and hospice services, insurers who contract for home health services, and nurses who provide home health and hospice services.''