UnitedHealth Group

Why the DOJ’s Lawsuit Against the UGH-Amedisys Merger May Not Go Anywhere

Experts aren’t sure what the outcome of the DOJ’s recent lawsuit against the proposed UnitedHealth Group/Amedisys merger will be under the incoming Trump administration. The Biden administration has focused more on supporting clinicians, while the previous Trump administration favored corporations. Additionally, one expert noted that this case differs from other antitrust lawsuits because it does not seem to focus on a potential price increase.

By Marissa Plescia

Health Tech, Payers

NCPA, Providers File Lawsuit Against UHG Over Change Healthcare Cyberattack

The National Community Pharmacists Association and providers argued that Change Healthcare didn't take the needed precautions against the cyberattack that happened earlier this year.

By Marissa Plescia

Payers

Will A Divestiture Save the UnitedHealth Group-Amedisys Deal?

Amedisys and UnitedHealth Group plan to divest care centers to an affiliate of VitalCaring Group. Several experts said this will likely clear the way for the companies' merger.

By Marissa Plescia

Health IT

Key Moments From the Change Healthcare Cyberattack Senate Hearing

Andrew Witty, CEO of UnitedHealth Group, faced bipartisan outrage from senators on the Senate Finance Committee angered by his company's cybersecurity failures. Here were the key moments from the hearing on Wednesday.

By Arundhati Parmar

Health Tech, Providers

Experts Aren’t Surprised About Optum Closing Its Virtual Care Business

Optum is shutting down its virtual care unit after a three-year run. Industry experts agree that the closure reflects broader trends in the telehealth market, in which saturation and differentiation challenges are leading some providers to struggle.

By Katie Adams

Consumer / Employer, Payers, Legal

Should the DOJ Break Up UnitedHealth Group?

The U.S. Department of Justice has reportedly recently launched an antitrust investigation of UnitedHealth Group, which begs the question of whether the healthcare giant should be broken up. Experts have varying opinions.

By Marissa Plescia

Health Tech

‘Nation-State’ Cyberattack Hits Change Healthcare, Disrupting Pharmacy Services Across the Country

Pharmacies across the country are facing disruptions following a cyberattack on Change Healthcare — which is owned by Optum, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group. In a filing with the SEC, UnitedHealth stated that the unauthorized party that gained access to Change Healthcare's systems was a “suspected nation-state associated cyber security threat actor."

By Katie Adams

Legal

Labor Department Sues UnitedHealth Group Over ‘Thousands’ of Claims Denials

The Labor Department recently sued UnitedHealth Group subsidiary UMR, alleging that it wrongfully denied claims for emergency room services and urinary drug screenings since 2015. UMR did not determine the medical necessity of the claims, denying them “based solely on diagnosis codes and not applying a prudent layperson standard," according to the complaint.

By Katie Adams

Healthcare, Startups

Healthcare Moves: A Monthly Summary of Hires and Layoffs

Here is a selection of recent executive hires, departures and layoffs occurring across the healthcare industry.

By Katie Adams

Payers

UnitedHealth, American Nurses Foundation Launch Program for Nurse Burnout

The program aims to improve work environments for nurses and remove the stigma associated with asking for mental health care. The curriculum will focus on ways to identify and reduce stress before it escalates. While it will help all nurses, the program is especially geared toward nurses of color and those under the age of 35.

By Marissa Plescia

Consumer / Employer

Health Executives on Digital Transformation in Healthcare

Hear executives from Quantum Health, Surescripts, EY, Clinical Architecture and Personify Health share their views on digital transformation in healthcare.

By MedCity News

MedCity Influencers

What’s Behind the M&A Spree in the Hospice Industry

While the top-level view of the growth in the hospice industry at 20-plus percent is impressive, it’s worth looking at a few prominent examples to gain further insight into this accelerating trend.

By Michael Lalor

Consumer / Employer, Payers

Walmart, UnitedHealth Group form 10-year value-based care partnership

Through the collaboration, UnitedHealth Group's Optum will use its analytics and support tools to help Walmart Health clinicians deliver value-based care to Medicare Advantage beneficiaries. The partnership is starting at 15 locations in Florida and Georgia with the potential to grow in the future.

By Marissa Plescia

Legal, Health Tech

Department of Justice sues to block UnitedHealth from acquiring Change Healthcare

The Department of Justice filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to stop the deal just ahead of it being finalized on February 27.

By Emma Bardin

Health IT Legal,

UnitedHealth, Change meet requirements for DOJ investigation, agree not to merge before February

The companies have certified substantial compliance with a request for additional information from the Department of Justice, which opened an investigation of the merger in March. They struck an agreement with the agency not to merge until February of 2022, unless it drops its investigation before then.

By Elise Reuter - Medcity News

Legal

Pharmacists join chorus calling for DOJ to stop Optum-Change Healthcare merger

Independent and community pharmacies seek to prevent UHG and Change merging into a "corporate monster" that will stifle competition.

By Khadijah M. Silver