UnitedHealth’s Latest Transaction Raises Antitrust Concerns
UnitedHealth Group’s deal to acquire Change Healthcare Inc. will receive extra scrutiny from the Dept. of Justice, according to a recent filing. Regulators’ decision regarding the deal could have significant implications in the broad digital transformation of the health insurance industry mandated by interoperability and price transparency rules, experts tell AIS Health.
UnitedHealth announced an agreement with Change in January to fold the health data company into the diversified health insurer’s in-house data analytics shop, Optum. DOJ antitrust regulators gave notice to both firms on March 24 that they would have to provide additional information and documentary materials in order to have the deal approved, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing. The expanded investigation follows a formal complaint letter from the American Hospital Association (AHA), which requested the DOJ take a deeper look at the deal.
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