Emis Takeover by UnitedHealth Cleared by UK Regulator
After a thorough investigation, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the UK has given the green light for UnitedHealth to acquire Emis, finding no competition concerns. The deal, which was announced in June 2022, will see UnitedHealth’s subsidiary Optum merge with Emis in the UK.
Earlier this year, the CMA had expressed concerns that the deal could potentially increase costs for the National Health Service (NHS) by reducing competition in two software categories. To address these concerns, the regulator conducted an in-depth probe, which has now concluded that the aforementioned risk does not meet the higher legal standard required to block the transaction.
Optum provides software used by general practitioners for prescribing medicines, as well as data analytics and advisory services to the NHS. The CMA initially worried that the deal might enable Optum to restrict competitors’ access to the patient record system operated by Emis or degrade the digital connections to this system, which rivals rely on for integrated software. However, the NHS’s role as an overseer and the commercial benefits analyzed by the CMA have alleviated these concerns.
Kirstin Baker, chair of the independent inquiry group responsible for the investigation, emphasized the importance of ensuring the NHS retains access to various options and innovations brought by new technology. She stated, Following a thorough investigation, careful consideration of a broad range of evidence, and consultation with a variety of stakeholders, we are satisfied that this deal will not reduce competition or mean that the NHS and its patients lose out.
This decision by the UK regulator clears the way for UnitedHealth’s takeover of Emis, facilitating the integration of Optum’s services with Emis’s patient record system. As the NHS increasingly relies on digital technology and data analytics to enhance healthcare delivery, it is crucial to strike a balance between competition and the availability of cutting-edge technology for the benefit of patients and the healthcare system as a whole.
