CVS Aetna merger goes through. I'm quoted in Chief Executive
The combination of CVS and Aetna will work out great for the investment bankers and members of senior management who are able to cash out. Beyond that I'm skeptical about what value this colossus will add to the health care equation.When the deal was announced I expressed skepticism about the rationale (CVS + Aetna. Are we sure this adds up?)
If the idea is to get health insurers to offer plans that favor retail clinics, why not just contract with those plans? Aetna is a big company but as a national plan its market share in many geographies is relatively modest. Often –like here in Massachusetts– the local Blue Cross has the biggest market share. If CVS is big and powerful enough to actually buy Aetna, surely it can get that company and others to come to terms on retail clinics.
Now that the deal is done, Chief Executive asked me for my take. (CVS-Aetna merger approved by DOJ: What CEOs should know). They put me, quite rightly, in the "skeptical" category and quoted some of my concerns.
By healthcare business consultant David E. Williams, president of Health Business Group.