CVS Health’s takeover of health insurance giant is likely close to clearing the antitrust process with the Department of Justice, Bloomberg reported last week.

National health spending rose 5.2 percent to $3.66 trillion in June 2018 from the previous year, according to a new insights report from Alarum.

George Hahn of Philadelphia had two echocardiograms conducted at the same hospital a year apart, using the same insurance—the only difference was one cost $3,000 more than the other. Hahn’s plight is similar to many other Americans—and hospitals are acting, reports the Philadelphia Inquirer.

With immigration certainly a central issue in the 2018 mid-term elections, a new study could fuel debates about the dollars and cents of policy proposals. Researchers from Harvard Medical School and Tufts University found that immigrants’ healthcare costs were significantly lower than those of individuals born in the United States.

The American Medical Association (AMA) has urged the U.S. Department of Justice to block the planned $69 billion merger between CVS Health and Aetna.

Healthcare premiums have been rising rapidly over the past two years, but not all markets are seeing the same rates of inflation. Areas with fewer insurers are reporting higher premiums than other markets, according to a recent study published in Health Affairs.

After halting, then restarting, payments for the healthcare insurance risk-adjustment program, CMS has proposed keeping the payments for the 2018 benefits rule.

Cigna executives are moving ahead with the planned acquisition of Express Scripts—despite objections by activist investor Carl Icahn.