$3.3B merger of UnitedHealth and Amedisys delayed by DOJ lawsuit
The merger between UnitedHealth Group and the home healthcare giant Amedisys has been delayed, the companies announced in a December securities filing.
The $3.3 billion deal has been under scrutiny by regulators, with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) believing it violates antitrust laws. The agency has filed a lawsuit to block the merger, which would result in Amedisys becoming part of UnitedHealth’s Optum business segment.
The two companies have denied the DOJ’s claim that the deal would harm consumers, calling the homecare market “highly competitive” and arguing the merger won’t shift the landscape in an anticompetitive direction.
The DOJ seems to disagree, as it is proceeding with the case. Its outcome is tied to the new deadline for the acquisition to be finalized—which is now Dec. 31, 2025, or 10 days after a federal court’s ruling, whichever comes first.
The deal between UnitedHealth and Amedisys was initially agreed upon in June 2023, when UnitedHealth outbid all other competitors. The DOJ began investigating the merger in August 2023, ultimately deciding to move to block the deal the following November.
Given that a ruling by the U.S. District Court could be subject to appeal—and that policy may change under the incoming Donald Trump administration—it’s unclear when the matter will be resolved.
The DOJ had previously sued to block UnitedHealth’s acquisition of Change Healthcare on similar antitrust grounds in 2022. That lawsuit ultimately failed, and Change Healthcare is now part of Optum.
Chad is an award-winning writer and editor with over 15 years of experience working in media. He has a decade-long professional background in healthcare, working as a writer and in public relations.