Justice Watchdog Poised To Sink Teeth Into Mergers That Could Reshape Health Insurance Landscape
The Justice Department is considering the consolidations of four of the biggest U.S. health insurers - Aetna with Humana, and Anthem with Cigna Corp. -- which would leave the country with only three major insurers, down from five. And its new No. 3 man, Bill Baer, is showing little hesitation to haul companies to court to stop mergers.
Bloomberg:
U.S. Antitrust Watchdogs Turn To Insurers After Halliburton Win
Bill Baer was the ultimate Washington antitrust insider when he came to the Justice Department in 2013: At law firm Arnold & Porter,, he'd counseled the biggest U.S. companies, including deal machine General Electric Co., on getting mergers over the finish line. Now, as Baer's career advances - he's just been named to the No. 3 position at the Justice Department - he'll still be overseeing the antitrust watchdogs at his former division as they turn to a pair of proposed mergers that have the potential to radically reshape U.S. health care. (McLaughlin, 5/4)
