Susan Morse
Opponents say hospitals are reaping windfall profits by buying drugs at a discount but a trade group counters that cutting the program will force safety net hospitals to reduce services and layoff caregivers.
After failed merger with Humana, Aetna would need to convince feds that the merger is more than two industry behemoths coming together.
Insurer did not address rumors of CVS takeover, but said decision on its pharmacy benefits manager would be announced by mid-2018.
Top earner Palm Beach Accountable Care Organization saved Medicare $62 million, earning $30 million for the ACO.
Amazon's potential foray into pharmacy business could squeeze providers' bottom lines even more.
Announcement falls short of national emergency status which would have triggered release of federal funds.
Medicaid expansion in the Affordable Care Act turned Medicaid into a lifelong program for people it was never meant to support, Verma says.
Aetna will focus on core health insurance business while The Hartford Group will grow to become second largest life and disability insurer.
Board appoints Ronald Rittenmeyer as head of company in role of executive chairman as it continues CEO search.
Cuts to safety net entitlement programs would pose a significant risk to providers' reimbursement of care for older, sicker and disabled populations.