Modern Healthcare

Bumps in the road

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Anthem and Cigna executives squabble and accuse each other of violating the merger agreement.

JULY 21, 2016: The U.S. Justice Department, joined by 11 states and the District of Columbia, sues to block the Anthem-Cigna deal, claiming it would harm competitio­n in the national market, some local markets and on the ACA exchanges. Cigna says it’s “evaluating its options ... under the agreement.”

NOV. 21, 2016: Antitrust trial begins.

JAN. 18, 2017: Anthem asks for more time to close the deal. Cigna hedges again.

FEB. 8, 2017: U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson blocks the merger, saying it would harm competitio­n. Berman says Cigna execs were actively warning against the merger and even presented evidence underminin­g Anthem’s cost-savings projection­s. Anthem says it will immediatel­y appeal the decision; Cigna yet again says it will evaluate its options.

JULY 21, 2016: The Justice Department, eight states and the District of Columbia sue to block the merger, claiming it will harm competitio­n and raise prices in the Medicare Advantage market and in the public exchanges.

DEC. 5, 2016: Antitrust trial begins.

JAN. 23, 2017: U.S. District Judge John D. Bates blocks the merger based on anticompet­itive effects in the Medicare Advantage market and public exchanges.

Aetna said it would review the opinion and consider appealing.

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