Investors closely following potential merger wave
The takeover game is rampant among U.S. health insurers and stock investors are filling the stands.
Health Care & Life Sciences
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Health insurers that win merger race likely to get regulatory OK
A victory by Anthem Inc. in its bid to buy Cigna Corp. could create regulatory hurdles for other insurers exploring deals as antitrust officials seek to hold the line on rising health care costs.
Groups estimate 160,000 Hoosiers could lose subsidies
About 160,000 low- and moderate-income Indiana residents could lose health insurance premium subsidies provided under the Affordable Care Act if the U.S. Supreme Court rules them illegal, two groups estimated Tuesday.
Lilly drug regimen costing $9,200 a month scores zero in study
In a new scoring system for oncology drugs, a leading group of U.S. cancer doctors awarded a zero for overall benefit to a regimen featuring Alimta, Eli Lilly and Co.’s top-selling product.
Cigna: Anthem’s baggage makes marriage risky
Cigna said Anthem’s a risky bet due to fallout from its massive data breach, lawsuits that accuse it of conspiring to inflate prices, and lack of a growth strategy. But Wall Street thinks this deal is going to happen, unless Cigna can find another buyer.
Anthem reaffirms commitment to its $47 billion bid for Cigna
Indianapolis-based Anthem Inc. said Monday that the merged companies would cover more than 53 million people combined, a total that easily surpasses that of current market leader, UnitedHealth Group Inc.
Obamacare driving merger talk among big insurers
Driving the consolidation is the 2010 health law that put tougher rules on the industry, demanding more covered services, better care and a ceiling on profits.
Cigna rejects $47B offer from Anthem as ‘inadequate’
Anthem on Saturday offered to buy the smaller health insurer, which responded Sunday with a litany of concerns and criticisms.
Anthem goes public with $47B offer for Cigna
One of the stumbling blocks to a deal has been Cigna’s insistence that its CEO, David Cordani, serve as CEO of the merged company.
No 1,000-percent markups at Indy’s hospitals
But hospitals’ list prices in Indiana are more than three times what the federal Medicare program pays.
Congressional GOP plans to continue health law subsidies
Congressional Republicans will move to temporarily continue health care subsidies for millions of people if the Supreme Court overturns the aid, according to plans discussed Wednesday in the House and Senate.
Cook Group President Hawkins plans retirement
Kem Hawkins, who has been president of Cook Group Inc. since 2001, will retire on July 1. He will be replaced by Pete Yonkman, who since 2013 has been president of Cook Medical, the Cook subsidiary that makes medical devices.
Hill-Rom to acquire medical supplies firm for $2 billion
The acquisition lets Hill-Rom, a maker of hospital supplies for wound care and respiratory health, delve further into the market for diagnostic supplies for physicians and emergency responders
Potential deal drama heats up among five health insurers
The biggest U.S. providers—UnitedHealth Group Inc., Anthem Inc., Aetna Inc., Cigna Corp. and Humana Inc.—are all looking at possible combinations. Indianapolis-based Anthem is considering a takeover of Cigna or Humana, a person familiar with the matter said.
Buying Cigna would give 60 percent of Hoosier health insurance market to Anthem
If Anthem merged with Cigna Corp. it would create a behemoth with even greater negotiating power, which could benefit employers but hurt doctors and hospitals.
Report: Anthem makes $45B takeover bid for Cigna
Anthem Inc. has made a buyout offer to rival health insurer Cigna Corp. for $45 billion, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday. That price would make the deal the largest health insurance merger in U.S. history.
Startup aims to upend diabetes care with matchstick-size implant
Intarcia Therapeutics Inc. is betting its matchstick-size pump could take market share from Eli Lilly and Co., AstraZeneca Plc and Novo Nordisk A/S.
Target selling pharmacy, clinic businesses to CVS Health
Target Corp. has agreed to sell its pharmacy and clinic businesses to the drugstore chain CVS Health Corp. for about $1.9 billion in a deal that combines the resources of two retailers seeking to polish their health care reputations.
If Supremes gut Obamacare’s tax credits, the fixes are easy. But the politics are hard.
The Obama administration could write a new regulation. Congress could pass a short law. States could run a low-cost exchange. But the politics might require all parties to let the tax credits die while they try to pin the blame on the other side.
Biotech with unproven Alzheimer’s drug now worth billions
Axovant Sciences Ltd., a company without a finished product or a dime of sales, has an almost $3 billion valuation after its public-market debut. The IPO shows the staggering potential for any company that can develop a successful Alzheimer’s treatment.