National Roundup: Justice Department, Aetna Spar At Trial; Planned Parenthood Scrambles
During the antitrust trial regarding the proposed merger between Aetna and Humana, this issue — and Aetna's role in the Medicare Advantage market — emerge as key elements in the legal arguments.
The Wall Street Journal:
Aetna Executives Defend Pulling Out Of Some ACA Exchanges
Aetna Inc. executives on Monday jousted with Justice Department lawyers over the health insurer’s reasons for sharply cutting its participation in Affordable Care Act exchanges, a potentially important issue in the antitrust trial over Aetna’s proposed merger with Humana Inc. (Kendall and Viswanatha, 12/12)
Reuters:
U.S. Seeks To Undercut Aetna CEO's Defence In Merger Fight
The U.S. Justice Department sought on Monday to knock down arguments by Aetna Inc's chief executive that Medicare Advantage competes with government insurance programs, making Aetna's proposed merger with Humana legal under antitrust law. Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini testified on Friday and returned to the witness stand Monday morning. The Justice Department sued to stop the merger in July. (Bartz, 12/12)
The Washington Post:
Planned Parenthood Fears It May Be First Casualty Of Rekindled Abortion War
Planned Parenthood officials are scrambling to prepare for the likelihood that Congress next year will cut off more than a half-billion dollars in federal funding to the group, fulfilling the wishes of abortion foes who are planning an aggressive push to roll back abortion rights under President-elect Donald Trump. (Somashekhar and Zezima, 12/12)