M&A

From CVS Health acquiring a Medicare Advantage broker platform to Elevance buying Kroger's speciality pharmacy business, here are nine payer merger and acquisition updates that Becker's reported since March 15: 

Optum could soon purchase Steward's physician group, a clinic chain in Oregon and home health provider Amedisys.

Elevance Health has closed the divestiture of its disability, accidental death and dismemberment, absence management, and paid family leave businesses to the Standard. 

Payers are continuing to snap up providers. 

Oregon regulators will open a review into UnitedHealth Group's proposed acquisition of Amedisys, after a preliminary report found the deal could hurt competition in the state's markets. 

Elevance Health has picked up several specialty pharmacy and care-based companies in recent years, bolstering the capacity of its health services arm, Carelon. 

Kroger is selling its specialty pharmacy business to CarelonRx, the PBM subsidiary of Elevance Health.

Oregon state regulators will allow UnitedHealth Group's Optum to bypass a state review of its planned purchase of Corvallis Clinic, citing an immediate need to maintain the provider's financial solvency.

UnitedHealth Group's Optum is seeking to fast-track its proposed purchase of Corvallis (Ore.) Clinic, citing an urgent need to "maintain the solvency" of the physician-owned organization.

Elevance Health has closed the acquisition of infusion center and specialty pharmacy operator Paragon Healthcare.