Mergers & Acquisitions
Clinical quality itself doesn't seem to suffer much, but patient perceptions can take a hit from market consolidation.
Aetna's individual Part D plan business, which was sold to WellCare, was the only area of concern for a lessening of competition, the DOJ said.
There is a need for a healthcare renaissance, and so HIMSS19 will drive and facilitate the reformation of healthcare, says Hal Wolf, President and CEO of HIMSS.
The deal was reportedly worth $14 billion and was announced in early October. Meanwhile, the Dignity Health and Catholic Health initiatives mega-merger is complete.
The deal is a milestone for the South Carolina public health system, as it is the first time MUSC has acquired other hospitals.
No estimated date of completion for the deal was revealed, but the newly-combined system would be known as Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health GraniteOne.
The volume of deals topped 2017, which was itself a banner year, but the value of deals has dipped during that time.
The two systems have signed a non-binding letter of intent and due diligence is expected to take several months.
The collaboration results in a value-based primary care provider that serves more than 170,000 patients in 18 states.
DOJ also filed a motion to stay the Affordable Care Act appeals case until after funding is restored.