American Medical Association Executive Vice President and CEO James L. Madara, MD, penned a letter to Acting Assistant Attorney General Brent Snyder, illustrating the organization's concern over how the new Republican administration may lead to the DOJ to settle with Anthem and Cigna.
Here are four things to know:
1. Dr. Madara says the concern stems from an Anthem attorney saying the company believes its merger plans could come to fruition and referred to Vice President Mike Pence as "supportive."
2. A judge blocked the payer merger on Feb. 8, 2017, citing antitrust concerns. Dr. Madara wants the DOJ to maintain this decision saying, "We find it implausible the DOJ, 11 states and the District of Columbia, could now be swayed to allow this merger to close pursuant to politically-driven settlement negotiations as Anthem has suggested."
3. The letter reiterated the AMA's stance that the deal would serve to patients' and physicians' detriment by raising prices and limiting competition.
4. Dr. Madara closes the letter saying the AMA endorses the judge's ruling and "respectfully urges the DOJ and state plaintiffs to reject any offers to settle the Anthem-Cigna litigation."