CVS acquisition of Aetna may not face antitrust challenges

U.S. antitrust enforcers might not move to block CVS Health’s acquisition of health insurance company Aetna, Bloomberg reported. The news, which was fueled from a report by Reorg Research, spiked shares of both companies last week.

Justice Department staff are expected to support approval of the $69 billion deal, which was announced in December 2017 and approved by shareholders of both companies in March.

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Amy Baxter

Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."

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“Now more than ever, we must recognize that our country’s leadership in groundbreaking medical research spurs scientific innovation, improves public health and creates new innovations that save and improve lives nationwide,” Joseph C. Wu, MD, PhD, explained in a statement. 

The technology used to diagnose, treat and manage cardiovascular disease is always evolving, keeping FDA officials quite busy. But have the agency's standards been slipping in recent years? A cardiologist with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center explored that very question.

No devices need to be returned at this time. However, the FDA warned, using these heart pumps without reviewing the updated instructions could result in "serious injury or death.”