At M&A Healthcare Advisors, we closely monitor regulatory changes that influence transaction strategy and valuation in the healthcare sector. In the latest McKnight’s Home Care Daily Pulse, Andre Ulloa shared his perspective on how the rollback of a key federal executive order could reshape the home-care M&A environment.
Policy Change
President Trump has rescinded the 2021 “Promoting Competition” executive order, a directive that had encouraged heightened antitrust scrutiny across federal agencies. The original order influenced how mergers and acquisitions were reviewed, including in healthcare segments like home care, where consolidation has remained active in recent years.
Market Impact
Without the added antitrust emphasis, merger review processes—particularly under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act—could become less burdensome. This shift may streamline transaction timelines and reduce compliance costs for some buyers. However, the magnitude of its impact will largely depend on whether larger operators re-engage in aggressive acquisition strategies.
Industry Perspective
Andre Ulloa, Managing Director at M&A Healthcare Advisors, noted that while the policy change may ease certain deal processes, it doesn’t guarantee an immediate uptick in consolidation: “The executive order … may ease deal processes, but it’s unlikely to trigger a wave of new consolidation unless these larger players resume aggressive acquisition strategies.”
He later added: “Regarding M&A in home care, the streamlined HSR Act review process and the administration’s focus on reducing regulatory burdens could facilitate mid-market transactions. This could lower compliance costs and expedite the approvals process.
Strategic Considerations
For large platforms, the rollback could offer more freedom in pursuing add-on acquisitions. For mid-market and independent providers, it may present an opportunity to transact with fewer procedural hurdles—though market fundamentals such as staffing, payer mix, and referral stability will continue to be the primary drivers of deal value.
