McKesson To Buy U.S. Oncology For $2.16 BillionMcKesson To Buy U.S. Oncology For $2.16 Billion

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The unified company will deliver an oncology program, clinical tools, guidelines, and care pathways to deliver evidence-based medicine backed by a team of clinical experts.

With approximately 3,000 total physician customers, the new organization's expanded breadth will accelerate investments in integrated systems, process excellence, and clinical programs that will help drive productivity, efficient care delivery, and the best possible care experience for patients, both companies said in a joint statement.

Together, McKesson and U.S. Oncology will provide oncology practices with a suite of practice-support options and services, which can be tailored to meet each customer's specific needs. U.S. Oncology's existing Comprehensive Strategic Alliance (CSA) practice-management offering and core services will remain intact, while the combined organization will offer a broad array of technology, practice-management, reimbursement, and clinical services to the community oncology segment.

U.S. Oncology does not employ the physicians or own the practices affiliated with the company, and all customers will retain the flexibility to select the business-relationship model that best suits their individual needs.

The combined McKesson specialty care solutions business will be led by Bruce Broussard, chairman and chief executive officer of U.S. Oncology, and will be headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas, with continuing operations in the San Francisco Bay Area and other locations throughout the country. Broussard will report to Paul Julian, executive VP and group president of McKesson Corporation.

"With the healthcare marketplace moving rapidly toward reimbursement based on quality and cost-effectiveness, our physician customers need access to deep clinical, operational, and information technology capabilities to create integrated networks that continually enhance the quality of care in a cost-efficient manner," Broussard said in a statement. "In joining McKesson, we are building the scale and expertise necessary to empower our customer base to shape the future of healthcare."