Protecting Our Progress and Confronting the Challenges of COVID-19 Like most Californians, we had high hopes for progress in 2020. The year began in earnest with the implementation of expanded access and affordability to coverage for hundreds of thousands of Californians, and ambitious plans to increase health industry oversight to control costs, improve quality and […]
Merger Watch Update: Dignity Health-Catholic Health Initiatives and CVS-Aetna
Consolidation in the health industry often means fewer choices and less competition, with little to no benefit for patients or the public. Health care companies should not be allowed to get bigger unless they get better. In California, the top five insurers already control over 90% of the market. Health Access closely monitors mergers and advocates […]
CVS-Aetna Merger Approved With Conditions, As California Seeks Stronger Oversight
Today, the U.S. Department of Justice approved the merger of CVS Health and Aetna, continuing the trend of “diagonal” mergers, and the further consolidation of mega-health care corporations. CVS, a major pharmacy chain and one of the nations largest independent pharmacy benefit managers (PBM), and Aetna, one of the nations largest insurers, consolidates the health […]
Crosspost: Why I’m speaking out on the pending Catholic Hospital Mergers
This week on the Health Access blog, we are cross-posting an important and personal story from our colleague Dannie Ceseña, Program Coordinator for the California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network (a project of Health Access). For over 30 years, Health Access has advocated for policies that protect patients when the health industry proposes to […]
Governor Brown Signs Bill to Improve Oversight of Health Plan Mergers
Last Friday, September 7th, Governor Jerry Brown signed AB 595 by Assemblymember Jim Wood which institutes stronger state oversight over health plan mergers, in a big win for patients and the public interest. With concerns about rising premiums, fewer choices, and competition in health insurance, Governor Brown is right to protect consumers with stronger oversight of health […]
Care4All California Agenda Advances in the Final Days of 2018 Legislative Session
Yesterday, Monday August 27th, the California Legislature passed a number of important health care bills part of the Care4All California campaign that seeks to move California towards a more accessible, equitable, and universal health care system. AB 595 by Assemblymember Wood, instituting stronger state oversight over health plan mergers, was passed on a preliminary 42-17 vote. In California, the top […]
State Legislation Update: AB 595 (Wood) to Increase Oversight Over Health Plan Mergers Passes Key Committee
In the midst of the ongoing federal fight, Health Access continues to advocate on behalf of consumers at the state level, sponsoring AB 595 (Wood) to strengthen state oversight over health plan mergers.
Aetna-Humana merger blocked
Earlier this week, we cheered the judicial decision to block Aetna’s proposed acquisition of Humana, one of the two big health insurance mega-mergers in the last year. U.S. Department of Justice had sued citing anti-trust concerns that the merger would lead to reduced competition, increased prices, and reduced quality. In hearings earlier this year, consumer […]
Justice Department Sues to Block 2 Big Health Insurance Mergers
Good news for health consumers! Last week, the US Justice Department (USDOJ) announced it is suing to block the Anthem-Cigna and Aetna-Humana mergers, which have been under intense scrutiny by regulators and consumer advocates. The suits allege these deals violate antitrust laws and will harm consumers, seniors, working families and individuals, and employers and healthcare […]
Consumer Advocates Raise Concerns About Aetna-Humana Mega-Merger at CDI Hearing
On April 27, the California Department of Insurance held a hearing on the proposed merger of Aetna and Humana. This hearing takes place after a public meeting held by the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) in January. This hearing comes on the heels of a Senate Health Committee hearing this month on SB 932 […]