


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
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 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 »
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 »