Leading payers Humana and Aetna opted to move their merger deadline from June 30 to Dec. 31, according to HartfordBusiness.com.
Here are four key points:
1. An Aetna spokesperson did not disclose a reason for extension, but the spokesperson did say the payers' expect to close the deal during the latter half of 2016.
2. Last week, seven U.S. senators pushed forward a request to block the merger.
3. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut), one of the petition's signers, argued the deal was anti-competitive and posed as a threat to jobs in Connecticut.
4. Sen. Blumenthal said Aetna stated it would base all off its Medicare-related operations in Kentucky, Humana's headquarters.
More articles on coding & billing:
Obama administration to update Medicare Part B payment proposal, but will this be enough to squash opposition?
Illinois Department of Insurance approves $37B Aetna, Humana merger: 4 key points
Louisiana ACO partners with BCBS: 5 notes