In an under-the-radar move, UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) has been combining Optum Health assets with Red Ventures’ health care portfolio to create a new consumer health joint venture (JV) dubbed “RVO Health.”
That’s according to a Monday report from Axios.
The ownership “structure” of the JV is not clear, according to the report. All that is clear is Red Ventures received cash proceeds in exchange for contributed assets, which were, in turn, used to pay down a term loan.
Red Ventures owns RV Health. Healthline.com, Healthgrades.com, MedicalNewsToday.com, Greatist.com and PsychCentral.com are among RV Health’s portfolio companies.
RV Health employs more than 500 people across the U.S. Red Ventures also owns The Points Guy, Bankrate and Allconnect.com, among other entities.
Essentially, Optum is connecting its offerings with a company that offers guidance to consumers on health advice. Through that connection, consumers will more often come upon prescription tools, at-home care offerings and other wellness products from Optum, which is owned by UnitedHealth Group.
UnitedHealth Group and Optum are also in the process of acquiring LHC Group (Nasdaq: LHCG), which is one of the largest home health and hospice companies in the country.
“The JV will accelerate RV Health’s access to new products, services and solutions, as well as provide access to a sizable first-party data audience, while UHG will enhance its digital transformation and momentum from Red Venture’s technology platform and digital marketing expertise,” a report from the financial research company Moody’s read.
Landmark Health, naviHealth and Atrius Health are just some of the companies within the Optum umbrella. Earlier this year, Optum also acquired Refresh Mental Health and Kelsey-Seybold Clinic, the latter of which is a multi-specialty group practice.
Its acquisitions have been generally targeted up until this point, however, and it has mostly gone after large, established providers and less digital-health-type startups.
But with more and more offerings underneath its umbrella, it seems the RVO Health JV may be an opportunity for the provider to own the continuum – and to make sure that its offerings are advertised and available to consumers as much as possible.
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