Disease management vendor Healthways said it will buy smaller rival LifeMasters in a deal worth $307 million. The move opens a door for the Nashville-based company to move into Medicaid, an area where it has not previously ventured. The acquisition is expected to increase Healthways' patient base to 2.6 million. CEO Ben R. Leedle said the deal will help his company hold off the competition. "LifeMasters has worked hard to create the relationships that are necessary (to operate successfully within the government program). "It's put them in a market-leading position with Medicaid."
- read this article from the Tennessean