Leaders from the Colorado Medical Society are asking the state government to intensely scrutinize the merger between insurance giants Anthem and Cigna, according to the Denver Business Journal.
The group's main concerns? Increased premium prices, reduced quality of care and less physician access to patients.
When polled by Kupersmit Research, 68 percent of Colorado Medical Society members said they oppose the merger. Only 5 percent support it. Another 62 percent think the Anthem-Cigna merger will make them spend less time with their patients, while 75 percent think it'll create higher healthcare costs.
In addition, a separate survey found 28 percent of Colorado Medical Society physicians would retire early or relocate to a different state if the merger goes through, according to CMS President Michael Volz, MD.
The Colorado Medical Society isn't the only group concerned by the merger. Other organizations, including the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative and Mental Health Colorado, have requested that the Colorado Division of Insurance create more public input opportunities.
After the Department of Justice issues its ruling on the merger, the state of Colorado will begin its investigation, which has to include one public hearing, followed by 30 days for the public to comment, according to the report.