The CID review process raises serious questions about the veracity of the review, and the reliability and quality of the determination.
- The CID determination to complete its review “without objection” was made on January 22 of this year, but the public was not notified until May 26 – nearly five months of silence.
- The Form A (change of control application) filing was not required, so CID chose not to hold any public hearing – despite the gravity of the decision on the proposed merger.
- The Form E filing (determination of competitive impact) was not made available for public review on the CID website at any time.
It is difficult to understand how CID could have made a determination of this magnitude without any public engagement, or even any public awareness of the fact that the review process was underway.
After learning of the CID determination, CSMS, working with the Connecticut Campaign for Consumer Choice, immediately filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. The request asked for “any & all information” used by CID in making its ill-advised determination.
How can the public have any faith or confidence in the quality of CID’s due diligence process associated with the merger of such large (and in Aetna’s case, Connecticut-based) institutions? Given the secrecy with which CID made the determination, it is impossible to know whether even a shred of evidence was presented to suggest that the merger would result in improved health coverage, job retention, or any other positive result for Connecticut residents. “Kentucky got job commitments,” noted CSMS EVP Matthew Katz. “Connecticut got nothing, except threats of Aetna leaving the state.”
The Connecticut State Medical Society calls on CID to re-examine their process and reconsider their approval of the Aetna-Humana merger. CSMS also calls on CID to publicly commit to an open, fair and transparent process in reviewing the Anthem-Cigna merger, allowing all interested and concerned parties to voice concerns, ask questions, and participate in the decision process.
Connecticut voters, legislators, patients and clinicians deserve better.
5/26 - Coalition Response to Aetna-Humana Approval by CID 052616) (press release)
5/13 - Letter from 17 Connecticut legislators to Commissioner Wade
Contact:
Kelly Gilbert Raskauskas
CSMS VP Communications
203-8650-0587 x110
