For many months now, Pennsylvania health plans Independence Blue Cross and Highmark have been waiting for the chance to defend their planned merger--and now, at long last, they've gotten their hearing. However, they're not getting much love from observers. The merger, which would create the state's largest health insurer, has many critics. Among the toughest are the state's doctors, who argue that the merged entity would use its cloud to batter down doctors and hospitals on fees. Doctors voiced their concerns at a recent hearing on the merger run by the state's insurance commissioner. Article [1]
Links:
[1] http://www.philly.com/inquirer/business/20080711_Insurers_pressed_on_competition_at_merger_hearing.html