MERGERS: KAISER ABSORBS COMMUNITY HEALTH PLAN

      Kaiser Permanente was given the go-ahead by regulators on
 Friday to merge with Latham, NY-based Community Health Plan,
 creating the "largest single Kaiser plan outside of California."
 HARTFORD COURANT reports that the deal brings together Community
 Health's plans in New York, Vermont and western Massachusetts
 with Kaiser's plans in Connecticut, New York's Westchester County
 and western Massachusetts to form an organization with a combined
 membership of 527,200.
      THE LEGALITIES:  The affiliation was approved by the New
 York Department of Insurance and received clearance from the
 Massachusetts attorney general, the California Department of
 Corporation and the Federal Trade Commission, according to the
 HARTFORD COURANT.  The new operation will be headquartered in
 Latham, NY, and Community Health Plan President John Baackes will
 be the president and regional manager.  Kaiser Foundation Health
 Plan Inc. "assumed the assets and obligations of Community Health
 Plan," but no purchase price was negotiated due to the companies'
 non-profit status (8/3).