DELTA DENTAL: Partnership Would Form Nation’s Largest Dental Provider

      Not-for-profit Delta Dental of California Wednesday announced plans to partner with Delta Dental of Pennsylvania under a new not-for- profit holding company, the Sacramento Bee reports. Pending regulatory approval, the new entity, would have more than 16 million members in 16 states and the District of Columbia, and $3.3 billion in annual revenues. In addition, the merger would form the largest single provider of dental benefits in the country, overtaking the spot currently held by Hartford, Conn.-based Aetna/Prudential, a for-profit firm with 15.4 million enrollees. Both Delta Dental branches would retain their individual licensing identities, assets and management structures in the partnership. Delta Dental Plan spokesperson Elizabeth Reisberg said that the combined groups hope to achieve efficiencies by "sharing 'best practices' and combining some resources," such as marketing. Currently, no layoffs or consolidations are planned (Fisher, 3/16).