The United States District Court for the District of Maryland has entered a Final Judgment proposed by the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, which includes significant divestitures to address antitrust challenges related to UnitedHealth Group's $3.3 billion acquisition of Amedisys Inc.

As part of the settlement, UnitedHealth and Amedisys are required to divest at least 164 home health and hospice locations across 19 states, which represent approximately $528 million in annual revenue. This divestiture is noted as the largest of its kind in outpatient healthcare services to resolve a merger challenge.

Additionally, the settlement imposes a $1.1 million civil penalty on Amedisys for falsely certifying compliance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act. The settlement also includes provisions for a monitor to oversee the divestiture process and ensure compliance with the consent decree.

UnitedHealth, a major player in the healthcare industry, is required to divest additional locations if it fails to secure regulatory approval for the divestiture of associated facilities. The settlement aims to preserve competition in the healthcare sector, which is deemed critical for the well-being of American families.