Change Healthcare CEO Defends UnitedHealth Merger in Court

Change Healthcare Inc. Chief Executive Officer Neil de Crescenzo defended the company’s proposed combination with UnitedHealth Group Inc. in court Tuesday as Justice Department attorneys attempted to prove the deal would harm competition.

During hours of testimony, De Crescenzo responded to questions about Change’s strategy before the merger was planned, any overlap between the company’s business and the UnitedHealth unit it would join, and how products in development might be affected by the deal.

The trial in federal court in Washington is a test of the Biden administration’s antitrust agenda. A verdict to block the $7.8 billion deal could have ...