Move to Block UnitedHealth’s Acquisition of Home Care Company, Drug Maker Lawsuits against HHS & More

Federal Regulators Move to Block UnitedHealth Acquisition of Amedisys

The U.S. Department of Justice and Democratic attorneys general of Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey and New York filed an antitrust lawsuit aimed at blocking UnitedHealth Group from acquiring the home health company Amedisys. UnitedHealth, the nation’s largest health insurer, acquired one of the nation’s largest home health companies, LHC Group, last year. The future of the suit is unclear with President Trump expected to replace top Justice Department officials when he takes office next year. (NEW YORK TIMES)

Drug Makers Sue to Stop Discount Drug Double Dipping

Eli Lilly & Co. filed a lawsuit in D.C. federal court last week claiming the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is unlawfully blocking it from changing its rebate model for the 340B prescription drug discount program to prevent hospitals and retail pharmacy chains from claiming duplicate discounts instead of passing cost savings on to patients. Johnson & Johnson filed a similar suit days earlier. (LAW360)

MI Dems Seeking to Repeal Medicaid Work Requirements

Michigan’s Democrat-controlled House passed a bill (HB 4224) that would eliminate work requirements for Medicaid, sending the measure to the state’s Democrat-led Senate. Republicans enacted legislation in 2018 imposing the work requirements, but a federal court struck down the law a few months after it took effect. If Democrats don’t remove the requirements, however, the U.S. Supreme Court could allow them to go back into effect. (MLIVE, LEXISNEXIS STATE NET)

—Compiled by SNCJ Managing Editor KOREY CLARK

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