Key Takeaways UnitedHealth Group and Amedisys agreed to extend the deadline to complete their $3.3 billion merger. The deal had been expected to be completed this week, but federal and state regulators moved to block it,

UnitedHealth Group has filed for more time to complete a $3.3 billion deal to buy Amedisys, a home health care and hospice company, after the companies agreed to waive deadlines in the face of antitrust scrutiny.

Amedisys stock climbed Friday after the provider of home health care agreed to waive its right to terminate a merger agreement with UnitedHealth Group, bolstering expectations that the deal will succeed despite a government attempt to block it.

UnitedHealth and Amedisys have agreed to extend the deadline to close their $3.3 billion merger agreement to next year, a filing showed on Friday, as the deal faces close scrutiny from the U.S. Department of Justice.