UnitedHealth Will Fight DOJ Move to Block Change Healthcare Deal

The U.S. Dept. of Justice (DOJ) on Feb. 24 sued to block UnitedHealth Group’s proposed $13 billion acquisition of Change Healthcare Inc., arguing that the deal would stymie competition not only in commercial health insurance markets but also the market for technology that allows insurers to process claims and reduce health care costs.

UnitedHealth has already indicated that it will challenge the legal action taken by the DOJ and attorneys general from Minnesota and New York — setting the stage for the first legal fight to save a major deal involving a health insurer since the failed Anthem/Cigna and Humana/Aetna tie-ups.