Complaint says transaction could hurt care for vulnerable patients and harm home health and hospice nurses

WASHINGTON—The Department of Justice (DOJ), together with the Attorneys General of Maryland, Illinois, New Jersey and New York, filed a civil antitrust lawsuit  to block UnitedHealth Group Incorporated from completing its proposed $3.3 billion acquisition of rival home health and hospice services provider Amedisys Inc, saying it would eliminate competition between the two companies. 

The home health care company released its third quarter financial results ahead of its pending merger with UnitedHealth Group

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana—Amedisys Inc., a health care at home company aiming to deliver home health, hospice and acuity care services, reported its financial results for its third quarter of 2024, which include the three-month and nine-month periods that ended Sept. 30. Additionally, the company said due to its pending merger with UnitedHealth Group Inc., it will not conduct a quarterly earnings call to discuss the third quarter results.


The two aim to create a leading, independent platform for home and alternate site care.

BANNOCKBURN, Illinois and BATON ROUGE, Lousiana—Option Care Health, Inc. ("Option Care Health"), the nation's largest independent provider of home and alternate site infusion services, and Amedisys, Inc., a provider of home health, hospice and high-acuity care, announced they have entered into a definitive merger agreement to combine in an all-stock transaction that values Amedisys at approximately $3.6 billion, including the assumption of net debt.

Healthcare leader brings wealth of operational and business development experience

BATON ROUGE, Lousiana—Amedisys, Inc., a provider of quality home health, hospice and high-acuity care services, announced its Board of Directors named Richard Ashworth as president, chief executive officer and member of the Board of Directors. Ashworth will assume the role on April 10, 2023, from Chief Executive Officer Paul Kusserow.


With Medicare spend for hospice care growing substantially in recent years and palliative care becoming an increasingly attractive precursor to hospice in the emerging value-based ecosystem, the hospice market is changing.

Recent developments of note include the October 10, 2018, announcement from Amedisys that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Compassionate Care Hospice, a national hospice care provider headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey.