CVS-Oak Street Deal Could Boost Aetna MA Retention, but Faces Regulatory Risks
Confirming a tie-up that had been rumored for months, CVS Health Corp. on Feb. 8 revealed that it struck a $10.6 billion deal to buy Oak Street Health, which owns primary care centers catering to Medicare-eligible patients. Executives of the two firms say the benefits of the proposed transaction abound for both CVS Health and Oak Street — including having the potential to help CVS Health-owned Aetna retain Medicare Advantage members — but industry observers say the acquiring firm still faces a bevy of risks as it seeks to incorporate multiple new care delivery assets.
During CVS Health’s conference call to discuss fourth-quarter and full-year 2022 financial results, CEO Karen Lynch and Mike Pykosz, Oak Street’s president, discussed the merits of the deal at length.