In the May 6 article “American Antitrust Institute expresses concern about proposed Optum-Change Healthcare deal,” Fierce Healthcare cites AAI’s and the American Hospital Association’s positions on the deal.
From the article:
The American Hospital Association also urged DOJ to take a closer look at the acquisition, saying that it would create a “massive consolidation” of healthcare data. DOJ said in late March that it would probe the deal.
AAI added in the letter that while UnitedHealth and Change argue that the merger would lead to increased efficiency and cost savings, similar efficiencies could be realized if Optum reorganized its operations without the acquisition.
“In light of the foregoing concerns, AAI urges the Antitrust Division to scrutinize any claimed benefits surrounding how UHG’s acquisition of Change Healthcare will enable better data analytics, better predictive capability, and enhanced clinical decision-making,” the group wrote.
“UHG and Change Healthcare bear the substantial burden of showing that their deal will not only generate such benefits but that those benefits will overwhelm adverse effects on consumers from the loss of vital competition,” the organization said.
