Health Leaders by BY JOHN COMMINS | NOVEMBER 26, 2018
The approval from New York comes with a boatload of conditions, including enhanced consumer and health insurance rate protections, privacy controls, cybersecurity compliance, and a $40 million commitment to support health insurance enrollment.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
CVS files notice with SEC stating that the merger will be finalized “on or about Nov. 28.”
Approval comes two weeks after California gave stipulation-laden approval. Feds approved the deal last month.
The $69 billion deal has the potential to fundamentally change healthcare delivery.
The megamerger of CVS Health Corp. and Aetna Inc. got the go-ahead Monday from New York state officials, clearing its last hurdle in a $69 billion deal that is expected to be finalized on Wednesday.The approval of New York’s Department of Financial Services comes with a boatload of conditions, including enhanced consumer and health insurance rate protections, privacy controls, cybersecurity compliance, and a $40 million commitment to support health insurance education and enrollment and other consumer health protections, DFS said in a media release.
“DFS listened to the concerns of the public and has obtained significant commitments from CVS and Aetna to address those concerns, ensuring that the companies hold to their promises of reduced costs and improved health care for New Yorkers, not pass on the costs of this acquisition to New Yorkers, enhance data privacy, and not act in an anti-competitive manner going forward,” Financial Services Superintendent Maria T. Vullo said.
“DFS will use its full regulatory authority to ensure that the companies adhere to these robust commitments and that both CVS and Aetna are held accountable for promises made to New Yorkers,” she said. The approval comes two weeks after the deal cleared another stipulation-laden approval from California. The federal government approved the deal last month.
In a filing today with the Securities and Exchange Commission, CVS said the deal will be finalized “on or about Nov. 28, 2018,” The Street reported.The New York state approval comes with conditions that:
No funds from Aetna covering New Yorkers can be used to pay for CVS’s acquisition.
Acquisition costs, including executive comp, cannot be passed on to any Aetna New York insurer.
Increased health insurance rates cannot be sought in New York to pay for the deal, and premiums and cost-sharing owed by policyholders cannot increase.
Dividends cannot be paid by Aetna without the prior approval of DFS for three years.
The merged company must provide DFS with annual reports for three years documenting its progress toward achieving promised synergies.
Aetna New York insurance products must be maintained for three years.
One or more new products must be made available by Aetna to the small and large group markets within two years through a New York-domiciled insurer.
New healthcare measures must include underserved communities.
$40 million will be given to support health insurance education and enrollment and strengthen the state’s healthcare transformation activities.
An independent third-party audit assesses whether Aetna employees have improperly accessed confidential information.
Adherence to DFS’ s cybersecurity regulations is maintained.
There is no preferential pricing to Aetna-affiliated health insurers in New York, including MCOs.
Participating provider networks include non-chain New York pharmacies for three years.
Questions about Medicare, private Medical Insurance and health insurance reimbursement? Physician Credentialing and Revalidation? or other changes in Medicare, Commercial Insurance, and Medicaid billing, credentialing and payments? Call the Firm Services at 512-243-6844
