Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Justice Department Looking At Anti-Trust Issues In Insurance Mergers
The Wall Street Journal: DOJ Girds For Strict Review Of Any Health-Insurer Mergers
The Justice Department is gearing up for an exacting look at any proposed mergers among the nation’s top health-insurance companies, amid questions inside and outside the department about whether industry consolidation could suppress competition. The five biggest health insurers have been circling one another for potential deals. Anthem Inc. has made public a $47.5 billion bid for Cigna Corp., which Cigna has so far rejected. Aetna Inc., meanwhile, has made a takeover proposal for Humana Inc. (Kendall and Wilde Mathews, 6/28)
The Wall Street Journal: Fear Of Losing Out Drives Deal Boom
In industries ranging from health care to technology to media, chief executives are rushing to make acquisitions, often either in anticipation of takeover moves by rivals or in response to them. The resulting corporate realignments affect executives, employees, customers and suppliers. (Mattioli and Cimilluca, 6/26)
