Here are six highlights:
1. A group of senators sent a letter to Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini asking for an explanation as to why the payer exited many Affordable Care Act exchanges. Aetna claimed the Department of Justice’s review of its Humana merger attributed to the payer’s marketplace withdrawal, yet the senators say this is not a sufficient enough reason to exit.
2. Last month, Aetna reported it was leaving 11 ACA exchanges after offering plans in 15 exchanges this year. Aetna has previously said it anticipated losses totaling $300 million on these state exchanges.
3. In his response to the senators, Mr. Bertolini wrote the senators made, “several unfounded accusations about Aetna’s intentions as they relate to the public health care exchanges.”
4. Mr. Bertolini said the senators are not examining the marketplace forces that make it difficult for payers to succeed in the exchanges, and therefore, make such ‘unfounded’ accusations.
5. Senators who wrote the letter to Aetna include Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey, Sherrod Brown and Bill Nelson.
6. An Aetna spokesperson said Aetna has not yet received a response from the senators concerning Mr. Bertolini’s letter.
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