M&A and Financing Newsflash: Justice Department Approves CVS-Aetna Merger, Amedisys Subsidiary Closes Personal Care Deal

Justice Department Approves CVS and Aetna Merger CVS Health Corp. (NYSE: CVS) has secured anti-trust approval for its $69 billion acquisition of Aetna (NYSE: AET), the Justice Department announced Wednesday. The deal was approved on the condition that the company divest Aetna’s Medicare Part D prescription drug plan business to WellCare Health Plans, Inc, a […]

Walmart, Anthem to Serve Medicare Advantage Members Together

An insurance giant and retail superpower are teaming up in another move reflecting consumers’ desire to age in place. Anthem (NYSE: ANTM) and Walmart (NYSE: WMT) announced Monday that they’re forming a partnership to decrease health care costs and improve access to medication and supplies. If successful, the move could increase shopping convenience to home care providers and […]

Home Care Providers Plan to Seize New Medicare Advantage Opportunity

Investors were bullish on home care on Tuesday, following news that Medicare Advantage (MA) plans would officially be allowed to cover non-skilled home care services starting in 2019. Care providers were excited as well, making the case that they are well-positioned to seize this opportunity, even as they are trying to determine its scope. The […]

LHC Group Closes Almost Family Merger, Charts Future Course

LHC Group (Nasdaq: LHCG) and Almost Family have now officially become the second-largest U.S. home health provider. The combined company is moving forward on a plan to be a “house of brands” offering a full continuum of home health, personal care and hospice services in hundreds of markets across the country. In November 2017, the […]

How Home Care Could Be Re-Shaped if Walmart Acquires Humana

In the midst of acquiring a stake in the largest home health provider in the nation, insurance giant Humana (NYSE: HUM) might also be in early stage talks to itself be acquired by retail behemoth Walmart (NYSE: WMT). The combination of Humana and Walmart, though far from certain, would potentially be a game-changer for home […]

Movers & Shakers: Humana Appoints Regional President

Humana Names Former Home Health Exec as Regional President Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) appointed Matt Berger as regional vice president for Humana’s Louisiana and Mississippi Medicare markets, effective March 18. Berger has served in regional finance roles for Humana, including four years as its Medicare Central Division chief financial officer in Louisiana. Prior to joining […]

How Amazon Could Take On Home Care

Amazon (NYSE: AMZN) is entering the health care market, and its momentum could carry the retail giant into the home care space. Watching Amazon’s actions and guessing at next steps has become a spectator sport, and as the home health care space is in the midst of a major consolidation period, industry players are looking […]

CVS-Aetna Merger Aims to Transform Community-Based Care

Pharmacy chain giant CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) has agreed to acquire Aetna (NYSE: AET), the nation’s third-largest insurance provider in a transaction valued at $69 billion. The combined company could bolster home- and community-based (HCB) care by executing on its vision of easier access to more comprehensive health services at retail locations. The merger of the […]