FTC Clears Apria Purchase of Hospice Firm

Apria Healthcare Group Inc.’s planned acquisition of Vitas Healthcare Inc., a private Miami-based hospice, has been cleared by the Federal Trade Commission, which was conducting a routine antitrust inquiry.

Apria, one of the nation’s largest home health-care companies, said earlier this month that it has signed a letter of intent to acquire Vitas for $212 million. Apria said the stock deal should close later this summer.

As part of the transaction, Apria will assume an unspecified amount of debt from Vitas, which will become a wholly owned Apria subsidiary and will continue to operate under its own name.