Recent acquisition fixation requires regulatory guidance

In the first half of this year, there have been several significant business transactions in the managed care industry that have either been completed or announced. Just to name a few, Anthem and WellPoint Health Networks are merging; UnitedHealthcare acquired Mid-Atlantic Medical Services; Humana acquired Ochsner Health Plan; UnitedHealthcare announced the acquisition of Oxford Health Plans; and Molina Healthcare announced its acquisition of Cimarron Health Plan. In this highly regulated industry, these types of transactions require various regulatory approvals. With so much activity this year, it is important to highlight some of the necessary procedures for potential acquirers and targets.