After attempting to end its potential merger with Indianapolis-based Anthem, Bloomfield, Conn.-based Cigna filed a brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals defering to Anthem in its antitrust case appeal, Healthcare Dive reports.
Here's what you should know.
1. Cigna previously attempted to terminate the merger agreement in February 2017 after a court ruled against the merger. Anthem filed a motion for an expedited appeal process that a judge granted, momentarily banning Cigna's termination attempt.
2. Cigna gave no stated reason as to why it's now advocating for the merger's approval.
3. Appeal arguments will begin March 24, 2017. The companies' merger agreement expires April 30, 2017. Cigna declined to extend the merger agreement past that deadline.
4. The AMA wrote a letter to Acting Assistant Attorney General Brent Snyder urging him to uphold the original court's decision concerning the case on March 3, 2017.