“Competition and choice hang in balance as the court begins to weigh the impact of the proposed deal between Anthem and Cigna,” Andrew Gurman, MD, president of AMA, wrote in a prepared statement. “The start of today’s court challenge sends a clear message that federal and state regulators are no longer willing to accept the claim that a bigger health insurance company is a better one.”
Indianapolis-based Anthem and Bloomfield, Conn.-based Cigna have argued their resulting scale would give them negotiating power over hospitals and physicians, lowering prices for policyholders. However, Dr. Gurman wrote a consolidated Anthem-Cigna mega insurer would impede physicians’ advocacy for patients and their clinical decisions.
“Lawmakers and regulators have a strong obligation to protect patients from a bad deal and foster more competition in health insurance markets,” Dr. Gurman wrote.
More articles on payer issues:
Blue Shield California CEO: ‘We’re not running for the hills’
Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, BCBS end ACA plan contract
Horizon adds 3 hospitals to Omnia network
