Emdeon's Acquisition of Change Healthcare: Innovating Transparency Solutions for Health Care Consumers

Case describes acquisition of Change Healthcare, which provides health care cost and quality information, by Emdeon, a health information exchange, and discusses health care transparency. Emdeon is a billion-dollar company that has grown through acquisitions; at its core, it transmits health insurance claims and payments between providers and insurers. The health care marketplace is becoming increasingly electronic, but this move comes with risks. Increased consumerism in health care is creating a need for information on cost and quality. Change Healthcare responds to this need and markets primarily to health insurers. The company has unique ways to drive enrollee engagement. However, the transparency space is becoming competitive, with entrants from public and private sources. In this shifting environment, Emdeon must decide how best to integrate Change.