Optum a Rising Star at UnitedHealth Group, Has More Room to Grow

The UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) subsidiary Optum Health has emerged as one of the largest players in home-based care, primary care and other health care services. Nevertheless, the company sees vast market opportunities on the road ahead. Optum Health currently serves more than 4.1 million patients in value-based care arrangements across all of its clinical […]

[UPDATED] Brookdale Sells 20% Stake in Hospice, Home Health JV with HCA

For $27 million, HCA Healthcare (NYSE: HCA) has acquired Brookdale Senior Living’s (NYSE: BKD) 20% stake in a hospice, home health and therapy joint venture between the two companies. HCA now owns 100% of the business. The joint venture formed in 2021 when the senior housing operator sold an 80% stake in its health care […]

Home-Based Care a Continuing Growth Engine for UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) is leveraging its subsidiary Optum to drive growth in value-based care arrangements, with building out its home-based care capabilities as a high priority. This drive is evidenced by Optum’s pending acquisition of Amedisys (NASDAQ: AMED) and its purchase of home health and hospice provider LHC Group, which closed in February. By […]

Enhabit Begins Mulling Strategic Alternatives, Possible Sale

Enhabit Inc. (NYSE: EHAB) has confirmed that it will begin considering “strategic alternatives” that could include a potential sale or merger. The Dallas-based home health and hospice provider announced today that it had satisfied the conditions of its Tax Matters Agreement (TMA) with its former parent company Encompass Health (NYSE: EHC). Enhabit emerged from the […]

Justice Department’s Amedisys-Optum Inquiry Reflects Growing Antitrust Concerns

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) will investigate potential antitrust violations in the UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) subsidiary Optum’s forthcoming acquisition of Amedisys, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMED). To date, neither Amedisys nor Optum have been accused of any wrongdoing. The DOJ performed a similar investigation when Optum acquired the health care technology company Change Healthcare earlier this […]

High-Acuity Services Driving Admissions Growth at Amedisys

High-acuity care in the home has become an admissions growth engine for Amedisys (NASDAQ: AMED), which the company delivers through its subsidiary Contessa. Combined, hospital-at-home and skilled nursing facility-at-home admissions grew by 55% year-over-year during the second quarter of the year. This is compared to a 4% increase in home health same-store admissions and a […]

Regulatory Pressures Contributing to M&A Slump

Regulatory challenges have contributed to the hospice sector’s current M&A slump, but this year’s volume nevertheless aligns with experts’ forecasts. In addition to those pressures, the industry is also in a cooling period in which companies focus on integrating the assets that many acquired during flurries of activity in 2021 and 2022, according to Mark […]

Dr. Amar Desai Takes Helm at Optum Health as New CEO

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) subsidiary Optum Health recently tapped Dr. Amar Desai as its new CEO. The change in leadership comes on the heels of Optum Health’s growing presence in the hospice and home health landscape. The company has acquired two of the nation’s largest providers — LHC Group and Amedisys Inc. (NASDAQ: AMED) — […]

[Updated] With Option Care Deal Pending, Optum Makes Bid for Amedisys

Amedisys Inc. (NASDAQ: AMED) has received an unsolicited proposal from the UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) subsidiary Optum to acquire all outstanding shares of the home health and hospice provider’s stock. Amedisys indicated in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that Optum has proposed an all-cash transaction at $100 per share. This, […]