Optum Adds Seattle’s Polyclinic to Its Doctor Roster

Optum Adds Seattle’s Polyclinic to Its Doctor Roster

UnitedHealth Group’s (NYSE: UNH) Optum division is a key growth driver for the managed care giant, and M&A is a primary reason. During an investor day meeting in New York on November 27, UNH CEO David Wichmann mentioned the company’s acquisition of The Polyclinic, a 240-doctor group in and around Seattle, Washington. Of course Mr. Wichmann didn’t disclose a price. The 101-year-old practice began looking for a partner after developing a strategic plan that proved too costly even for a group of 240 physicians with 14 locations. The deal with Optum will allow it retain control as a physician-led practice and it will continue to operate under its brand name. The practice... Read More »
Aetna Sells Medicare Part D Biz to WellCare

Aetna Sells Medicare Part D Biz to WellCare

Even before federal and state officials made the demand, Aetna Inc. (NYSE: AET) agreed to divest its standalone Medicare Part D business to WellCare Health Plans (NYSE: WCG) for an undisclosed price. The deal was struck to help deflect objections to Aetna’s takeover by CVS Health (NYSE: CVS), which was announced on December 3, 2017. The $77 billion price for that deal consists of $69 billion in cash and stock, and Aetna’s debt of approximately $8 billion. This transaction with WellCare is subject to the completion of that deal, which CVS expects will close in the early part of the fourth quarter of 2018. Aetna’s standalone Medicare Part D business includes more than 2.2... Read More »
Evolent Health Acquires New Century

Evolent Health Acquires New Century

Managed care company Evolent Health (NYSE: EVH) made its first acquisition in two years with the purchase of privately held New Century Health for up to $217 million. New Century, previously owned by NCIS Holdings, Inc., is a specialty care management company focused primarily on cancer and cardiac care. It manages approximately 462,000 Medicare Advantage (MA) lives under performance-based arrangements and provides administrative services to several partner organizations. The price is based on 3.1 million shares of EVH Class B common stock and $120 million at closing, as well as an earn-out of up to $20 million tied to future new business activity. Just for fun, that works out to only $470... Read More »
UnitedHealth Doubles Down

UnitedHealth Doubles Down

UnitedHealth Group is not taking much time off this summer, in what continues to be one of the most active healthcare M&A years on record. It recently announced the acquisition of Peoples Health, a Medicare Advantage plan based in Metairie, Louisiana, that has 63,000 members. Included in the acquisition were four clinics plus Capital City Medical Group, a seven-physician medical group that practices near Baton Rouge and New Orleans. It also looks like UnitedHealth will be buying specialty pharmacy company Genoa Health from PE firm Advent International. Genoa Health has approximately 400 full-service pharmacies which are generally located within community mental health centers. The... Read More »
Aetna Sells Medicare Part D Biz to WellCare

Meridian Sells to WellCare Health Plans for $2.5 Billion

WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG) struck a deal to acquire privately held Meridian, which operates Medicaid plans in Illinois and Michigan, as well as MeridianRx, a pharmacy benefit manager (PBM). The all-cash price is $2.5 billion. Meridian expects to generate more than $4.3 billion in total revenue in 2018. Through its subsidiaries, Meridian Health Plan of Michicgan, Inc. and Meridian Health Plan of Illinois, Inc., the company serves approximately 1.1 million Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, integrated dual-eligible and Health Insurance Marketplace members as or May 1, 2018, in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. This transaction is expected to close by the end of 2018. For... Read More »
Anthem Adds Aspire Health to Its Care Roster

Anthem Adds Aspire Health to Its Care Roster

Anthem Inc. (NYSE: ANTM) isn’t sitting still while other managed care companies scoop up physician practices and post-acute services. The Indianapolis-based health insurer announced on May 23 that it will acquire Aspire Health, the nation’s largest non-hospice, community based palliative care provider. Financial terms were not disclosed. Aspire Health was founded in 2013 by former U.S. Senator and physician William Frist (R-TN) and Brad Smith. The latter serves as CEO of the company. Aspire currently provides services under contracts with more than 20 health plans to consumers in 25 states. The company uses proprietary predictive clinical and claims-based patient algorithms to... Read More »