To aim for better integration, behavioural healthcare, and physical healthcare and to be one of the nation’s largest behavioural healthcare platforms, Centene has signed an agreement to acquire Magellan Health.
- Centene will acquire the managed behavioural healthcare company for $2.2 billion, leveraging a bridge financing commitment with JP Morgan.
- The acquisition would bolster Centene’s public payer health plan membership by adding 5.5 million new members in Medicaid or Medicare. Magellan Health would add 18 million third-party customers to Centene’s membership.
- Magellan Health also provides pharmacy services. Thus, the acquisition would also increase Centene’s pharmacy benefit manager members by 2 million and its number of medical pharmacy members by 16 million.
- The acquisition promises healthcare spending advantages and for boosting enrolment numbers. The payer expects its healthcare spending to decline, but its administrative and operational costs may also diminish due to this acquisition.
- Magellan and Centene boards of directors have unanimously approved the acquisition; it is yet to obtain state regulatory approvals and Magellan Health stockholders approvals along with other closing conditions. The companies expect that the transaction will be complete in the second half of 2021.