UnitedHealth Forced to Dismantle Monopoly in NY

NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James is cracking down on corporate greed, forcing UnitedHealth Group to dismantle a budding healthcare monopoly in Western New York. The AG, alongside her counterparts in Illinois, Maryland, and New Jersey, secured a deal that will require UnitedHealth to sell off critical home health and hospice facilities before completing its acquisition of Amedisys. This isn’t some slap-on-the-wrist settlement; it’s a hard-fought victory against a power grab that threatened to leave vulnerable patients with fewer choices and potentially higher bills.

The state’s lawsuit, filed in November 2024, alleged that the merger of UnitedHealth and Amedisys would have decimated competition in the home health and hospice market, particularly impacting seniors and those requiring specialized care. UnitedHealth and Amedisys are the top dogs in many upstate New York markets, and their rivalry – while cutthroat – actually benefited patients by driving up quality and keeping costs in check. The AG’s office argued, convincingly, that allowing these two giants to combine would have choked out innovation and left patients at the mercy of a single, unchecked provider.

“When big corporations dominate our health care markets, they can cut services and raise prices without fear of losing money, putting New Yorkers in need at serious risk,” Attorney General James stated bluntly. “Fair competition helps ensure that New Yorkers can get affordable, quality health care wherever they live. Seniors and other vulnerable New Yorkers’ lives depend on access to quality home care services, and today we are preventing United and Amedisys from jeopardizing those services.” This isn’t just legal jargon; it’s a direct acknowledgment that healthcare is a life-or-death issue, and unchecked corporate power can have deadly consequences.

Under the terms of the settlement, UnitedHealth will be forced to divest three Willcare home health locations in Jamestown, Amherst, and Wellsville to BrightSpring Health Services. This isn’t just a reshuffling of assets; it’s a crucial step to ensure that competition remains alive in these vital service areas. The Department of Justice (DOJ) will be keeping a close watch, appointing a monitor to oversee the divestments and guarantee UnitedHealth and Amedisys comply with the agreement. The feds are serious about this, and so is James.

This win isn’t an isolated incident. Attorney General James has been on a relentless tear against anticompetitive practices. In April, she secured over $2.5 million from New York City bus tour companies caught illegally colluding to stifle competition. In March, she won a judgment against Intermountain Management for illegally shutting down a competitor ski resort. She also secured a settlement with the NCAA, ending rules that restricted student athletes’ earning potential. And in January and December 2024, she put a stop to no-poach agreements in the building services industry. She even led a bipartisan coalition to a major victory against Google in a landmark antitrust case.

The message is clear: Letitia James isn’t afraid to take on powerful corporations to protect New Yorkers. This case demonstrates that even healthcare giants aren’t above the law, and that the Attorney General is willing to fight tooth and nail to ensure fair access to essential services. This is about more than just business; it’s about protecting the most vulnerable members of our community and ensuring they receive the care they deserve. The fight for affordable, quality healthcare is far from over, but today, New Yorkers can breathe a little easier knowing someone is on their side.

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