The leaders of Amedisys (Nasdaq: AMED) and UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) are reportedly scheduled to satisfy with U.S. Division of Justice (DOJ) officers this week about their pending deal. The DOJ's determination on whether or not to file a lawsuit to dam the deal has now reportedly been postponed till after the November 5 presidential election.

CTFN first reported the information, citing nameless sources “near the deal” and unnamed attorneys.

General, the truth that the “final rites” assembly was organized in any respect appeared to point – to some extent – ​​that the deal was much less more likely to undergo than beforehand thought. However not like previously, the final rites lately didn’t at all times precede lawsuits.

Nonetheless, the most recent information concerning the postponement of the choice modifications issues. The DOJ had an October 31 deadline to file a lawsuit to dam UnitedHealth Group's acquisition of Amedisys. The postponement subsequently makes a lawsuit much less probably, however not not possible.

“It’s nonetheless doable that the merging events and the DOJ might attain an settlement that may enable the merger to proceed, the primary and second sources stated,” CTFN wrote. “The primary supply claims no determination has been made but, whereas the second supply stated they imagine it’s extra probably than not that the merger will probably be consummated with out the necessity for a lawsuit. Nonetheless, ought to the DOJ select to problem the merger, UnitedHealth is anticipated to proceed litigation on this case.”

In different phrases, regardless of the DOJ decides to do, UnitedHealth Group plans to battle to see the Amedisys deal undergo. However DOJ management might additionally look completely different in a couple of months, based mostly on the end result of subsequent week's elections.

UnitedHealth Group's supplier division, Optum, agreed final June to accumulate Amedisys for $3.3 billion.

Amedisys relies in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and has 521 healthcare amenities in 37 states and the District of Columbia. It supplies excessive acuity dwelling care, hospice, palliative and home-based care.

UnitedHealth Group and Amedisys didn’t reply to a request for affirmation from Residence Well being Care Information concerning the delay within the DOJ's determination.

Bloomberg was the primary to report on the proposed assembly between Amedisys, UnitedHealth Group and the DOJ.

UnitedHealthcare – the insurance coverage arm of UnitedHealth Group – is the nation's largest Medicare Benefit (MA) administrator. Moreover, Optum already owns dwelling well being care big LHC Group, which it acquired for $5.4 billion in February 2023.

To handle antitrust issues, Amedisys beforehand agreed to divest a sure variety of its areas to PE-backed dwelling care supplier VitalCaring. The precise variety of areas has not but been decided, however in keeping with earlier reviews it might be greater than 100. That deal will solely take impact if UnitedHealth Group's acquisition of Amedisys goes by way of.