U.S. District Judge John Bates set a Dec. 5 start date for a trial over the pending Aetna-Humana merger, according to Crain's Chicago Business.
Here are five highlights:
1. Judge Bates will make a decision on the merger in mid-January.
2. Aetna and Humana sought an expedited trial, beginning in September, and a decision by the end of 2016.
3. However, the Department of Justice sought a February trial so the agency has sufficient time to make a case against the two giant payer megamerers.
4. If Aetna does not close on its Humana purchase by Dec. 31. 2016, the payer could face a $1 billion break-up fee.
5. Judge Amy Berman Jackson has not yet set a trial date for the trial over the $53 billion Anthem-Cigna merger.
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