WASHINGTON, Aug 7 (Reuters) - UnitedHealth Group ( UNH )

has agreed to sell off 164 hospice and home health locations to

resolve U.S. antitrust concerns over its $3.3 billion

acquisition of Amedisys ( AMED ), the U.S. Justice Department

said on Thursday.

The Justice Department and attorneys general from four

states sued last year to block the deal, arguing it would reduce

competition in the home health services market.

The deal is the latest to be cleared by Trump administration

antitrust enforcers, who have shown greater willingness to clear

deals than their predecessors in the Biden administration.

"This settlement protects quality and price competition for

hundreds of thousands of vulnerable patients and wage

competition for thousands of nurses," said Justice Department

antitrust head Gail Slater.

A spokesperson for Optum, UnitedHealth's ( UNH ) healthcare provider

unit, said in a statement that "with Amedisys ( AMED ), we look forward

to continuing meaningful improvements in the home health and

hospice care space, a vital part of our value-based care

approach."

The Justice Department also fined UnitedHealth ( UNH ) $1.1 million

for failing to flag missing information during the merger

review.