Thursday’s settlement is weaker than at least one antitrust expert expected based on the severity of the DOJ’s concerns. But it means the $3.3 billion merger is very likely to close next year.

UnitedHealth Group 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 , the U.S. Justice Department said on Thursday.

In November, the DO J filed a lawsuit to challenge Amedisys' (NASDAQ: AMED) $101 a share sale to UnitedHealth (NYSE: UNH ).The DOJ and four states filed a lawsuit to block the deal.