Following a quiet acquisition by Optum in early 2022, Prospero Health, a provider of home-based care, has announced its merger with Landmark Health, a fellow provider of palliative care services. Both Prospero and Landmark are now owned by UnitedHealth Group subsidiary Optum, with Landmark reportedly joining the group at the start of 2021.
The Prospero-Landmark merger comes shortly after UnitedHealth Group’s purchase of LHC Group for $5.4 billion. Optum at Home CEO Douglas Wenners, who founded Prospero in 2019 and took the helm at Optum at Home in early 2022, commented on the merger in a LinkedIn post, stating, “We are building an integrated care model that holistically addresses an individual’s physical, mental and social needs, changing health care for good.”
Prospero, which provides interdisciplinary services to 30,000 seniors with complex health needs in 28 states, has seen significant growth in recent years, with patient numbers rising from 1,700 in three states as of January 2020. The merger with Landmark is expected to be completed within three months, and the combined organization will provide services to an estimated 200,000 patients across a 37-state footprint.
UnitedHealth Group has been involved with Prospero since the company’s inception as an investor and payer source, and the merger with Landmark will allow the group to offer an expanded care continuum to their patient population. The integration of Prospero’s palliative and urgent care model with Landmark’s more longitudinal primary care services is expected to result in a more comprehensive system with greater touchpoints for patients. The combined organization also aligns with UnitedHealth Group’s stated goal of building a larger, value-based suite of home-based services with Optum at the forefront.
The merger between Prospero Health and Landmark Health is an important development in the healthcare industry, especially for patients with complex health needs. The merger comes after UnitedHealth Group’s acquisition of LHC Group, signaling the healthcare giant’s continued investment in expanding its home-based healthcare offerings.
Both Prospero and Landmark are renowned for their palliative care services, which are becoming increasingly important in modern healthcare as an aging population demands more specialized care. The merger will allow the two companies to combine their expertise, resources, and networks, resulting in a more comprehensive and coordinated care continuum for patients.
Overall, the Prospero-Landmark merger is a significant development in the healthcare industry, with the potential to offer better care to patients across the country. By bringing together two of the largest palliative care providers in the country, the merger represents a step forward in the integration of specialized care services and an improved care continuum for patients.
