The U.S. Department of Justice, alongside Attorneys General from Maryland, Illinois, New Jersey, and New York, has filed a civil antitrust lawsuit to block UnitedHealth Group’s proposed $3.3 billion acquisition of Amedisys, a major provider of home health and hospice care. The suit, filed in Maryland, argues that merging these two large competitors would reduce competition, risking higher costs and lower-quality care for vulnerable patients who rely on in-home and hospice services, as well as reduced wages and options for nurses in this sector.
UnitedHealth, which acquired LHC Group in 2023, has been expanding its footprint in home healthcare. According to the complaint, this acquisition would solidify UnitedHealth’s position across hundreds of local home health and hospice markets, spanning 23 states and employing 8,000 nurses. To address overlap concerns, UnitedHealth proposed divesting certain facilities to VitalCaring Group. However, the DOJ argues that this move fails to mitigate anti-competitive risks and would leave significant markets unaddressed.
The DOJ also seeks penalties against Amedisys for allegedly violating the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act by failing to disclose critical documents during the merger review. The case underscores the DOJ’s commitment to preserving competitive healthcare markets that serve vulnerable patients and healthcare workers.
