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Thursday, March 28, 2024

District judge blocks merger of Anthem, Cigna

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WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) —  A Washington, D.C., judge recently sided with the U.S. Department of Justice in a lawsuit attempting to block Anthem Inc. from acquiring Cigna Corp.

Judge Amy Berman Jackson presided over the case.

“Today’s decision is a victory for American consumers,” Brent Snyder acting assistant attorney general of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, said.

According to Snyder, the merger would have reduced competition and harmed consumers. Health insurance prices would have risen while innovation in the industry would have diminished.

“In concluding that Anthem’s acquisition of Cigna would violate federal antitrust laws, the court has protected consumers and the competition on which they rely,” Snyder said. “I thank the hardworking staff of the Antitrust Division and our state partners, who conducted a thorough investigation and offered a clear and compelling presentation across a two-phase trial and never wavered in their commitment to protect competition in these markets.”

Joining the department in the lawsuit were the Washington, D.C., and California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New York, Tennessee and Virginia.

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