What’s at stake in the UnitedHealth-Change Healthcare antitrust trial

August 01, 2022

NONA TEPPER 

The Justice Department lawsuit seeking to block UnitedHealth Group’s $13 billion acquisition of data broker Change Healthcare begins in federal court Monday.

The government sued to block the deal in February, alleging it would violate federal antitrust restrictions by giving UnitedHealthcare access to proprietary information on how rival health insurers structure their provider networks.

UnitedHealth Group has argued that adding Change Healthcare’s claims clearinghouse technology to its Optum healthcare services subsidiary would lower costs for health insurance companies and providers and, in turn, for patients. The companies initially planned to close the deal last year, and now aim to complete the transaction by Dec. 31.

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