https://mailchi.mp/12e6f7d010e1/the-weekly-gist-february-24-2023?e=d1e747d2d8

The deal, first announced in March 2022, will bring LHC’s home health locations, hospice sites, and long-term acute care hospitals across 37 states into UHG’s Optum division. LHC also has over 400 joint-venture arrangements with hospitals. The acquisition received heightened scrutiny from antitrust regulators, but was ultimately allowed to proceed. 

The Gist: LHC’s postacute footprint expands UHG’s Medicare Advantage value play, guaranteeing postacute capacity and providing a platform to funnel care into lower-cost settings. 

UHG’s strategy is right in line with its peers: Humana fully owns home health provider Kindred at Home (now branded CenterWell Home Health), and CVS Health plans to acquire Signify Health, which provides home care services with an emphasis on risk scoring. But achieving lower cost of care will require integration of postacute referrals and care management across rapidly expanding physician networks.