DOJ Requires UnitedHealth to Divest Clinics in Amedisys Merger
Published Date: 11/19/2025
Notice
Summary
The U.S. government is making sure UnitedHealth’s buyout of Amedisys doesn’t hurt competition. To fix this, UnitedHealth must sell 164 care locations across 19 states to other companies and pay a $1.1 million fine for breaking rules. These changes protect patients and keep the healthcare market fair and open.
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Sale of 164 care locations nationwide
If you use home health, hospice, or palliative care, UnitedHealth must sell 152 home health, 11 hospice, and 1 palliative care locations (164 total) across 19 states to BrightSpring, Pennant, or another buyer acceptable to the United States. The divestitures are meant to keep competition in local care markets.
Employee contracts transferred with sales
If you work at one of the divested agencies, your employment contract is part of the sale: the divested assets must include employment contracts for more than 1,800 "Relevant Personnel" (full-time, part-time, or contract employees) to help the buyers keep staff.
Up to one-year transition support for buyers
The seller must provide transition services to the buyers for up to 365 calendar days, with the United States able to approve up to an additional 180 days. An acquirer may end transition services with 30 days' notice. This helps buyers keep services running during the handover.
Amedisys pays $1.1M penalty and trains leaders
To resolve an HSR Act violation, Amedisys must pay a $1,100,000 civil penalty within 30 days of the Court's entry of the Final Judgment and provide antitrust compliance training for corporate leadership, their direct reports, and certain field leadership across all lines of business.
Possible extra divestitures tied to CMS approvals
Six of the divested home health locations share licenses or CMS identification numbers with locations UnitedHealth keeps. If those six cannot obtain the regulatory approvals to operate as they did on July 17, 2025, or to bill CMS for Medicare or Medicaid patients, UnitedHealth may be required to divest up to eight additional home health locations.
Court monitor and enforcement tools to ensure compliance
The Final Judgment provides for a court-appointed monitor (William Berlin was appointed) to investigate and report at least every 90 days and gives the United States rights to enforce the order, including seeking contempt. This oversight aims to make sure the divestitures happen as required.
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