A possible divestiture buyer has backed out of a deal with UnitedHealth Group and Amedisys that aimed to make a proposed acquisition of the home health company more palatable to regulators, the Capitol Forum reported May 31.
In May, the outlet reported the two companies offered to sell 100 clinics to a private equity buyer, and that UnitedHealth is still seeking a single purchaser for the facilities.
Optum, part of UnitedHealth Group, intends to acquire Amedisys in a $3.3 billion deal. Amedisys shareholders approved the deal in September, but the proposal is under review by the Justice Department. Lawmakers have urged careful scrutiny of the deal, and Oregon regulators have also launched their own probe into the acquisition.
Amedisys provides home healthcare, hospice and palliative care. It operates more than 500 clinics in 37 states.