Optum and Change Healthcare complete merger

Optum and Change Healthcare officially merged today.

Change filed a report with the Securities and Exchange Commission today in connection with the closing, in accordance with the January 5 merger agreement.

Why this matters
The official acquisition follows a court decision on September 19 against an attempt by the Department of Justice to stop the merger.

The DOJ said at the time that it was evaluating its next steps. It had 60 days from the September 19 decision to appeal.

Optum said the combined businesses share a vision for achieving a simpler, more intelligent and adaptive health system for patients, payers and care providers.

“The combination will connect and simplify the core clinical, administrative and payment processes healthcare providers and payers depend on to serve patients,” Optum said by statement. “Increasing efficiency and reducing friction will benefit the entire health system, resulting in lower costs and a better experience for all stakeholders.”

The larger trend
The estimated $13 billion merger combines UnitedHealth Group, one of the largest companies in the U.S. and the owner of the nation’s largest health insurer, and Change Healthcare, among the nation’s largest electronic data interchange clearinghouses.

The basis of the DOJ’s case centered on the competitively sensitive data UnitedHealth would gain from its rivals through the acquisition uniting UHG subsidiary Optum Insight and Change.

The American Hospital Association raised antitrust concerns.

To alleviate anti-competitve concerns, UnitedHealth has said it would divest Change’s claims editing business of ClaimsXten to TPG Capital. The divestiture was part of the September 19 court order. Healthcare Finance News