UnitedHealth Group has countered the Justice Department’s antitrust lawsuit against its proposed $3.3 billion acquisition of Amedisys, arguing that the challenge is misguided and could hinder the potential benefits for consumers in the hospice and home care markets. In a court filing submitted Friday to the U.S. District Court of Maryland, the companies defended the merger, stating it would enhance efficiency and expand services within UnitedHealth Group’s existing hospice and home care operations.
The companies emphasized that the merger would improve care coordination, reducing costly hospital readmissions, and provide Amedisys employees with competitive health and retirement benefits. They also criticized the Justice Department’s approach, claiming it overlooked a proposed divestiture package and relied on unrealistic market definitions. Additionally, they argued that the government’s case was based on “arbitrary, newly promulgated enforcement guidelines” that were not in place when the deal was initially signed.
The Justice Department, along with attorneys general from Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York, filed a lawsuit in November to block the merger, alleging it would harm patients and labor markets by significantly reducing competition. Both UnitedHealth Group and Amedisys are among the largest home health and hospice providers in the U.S., raising concerns about the potential impact on market dynamics. However, the companies maintain that the merger would ultimately benefit consumers and workers, and they are pushing back against the government’s claims.
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