UnitedHealth pays $5B for clinics

The nation's biggest health insurer is spending nearly $5 billion to buy hundreds of clinics, just three days after rival Aetna announced a bigger tie-up with CVS Health Corp.

UnitedHealth Group Inc. said yesterday it will buy DaVita Medical Group in a deal that extends the reach of its Optum health care services business to several more states.

Health insurers have been pushing deeper into managing or providing patient care in order to cut costs and improve quality. Insurers and clinic operators like CVS say they hope their more involved approach will help people stick to a treatment plan or live healthier lives.

On Sunday, CVS said it would pay about $69 billion for Aetna.