CVS-Aetna merger, pros and cons to consider

Back in December 2017, CVS Health announced its intentions to buy out Aetna insurance for $69 billion. More recently, according to Forbes, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has put forth a second request for information regarding the merger. However, it has yet to be determined whether the DOJ will try stopping the venture by means of legal action, as the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia did with the Aetna-Humana merger back in January 2017 by citing antitrust laws.

Even though the status of this potential business venture is still unclear, many have already begun weighing the pros and cons should it indeed go forward. Supporters of the deal predict that this healthcare shift would satisfy currently unmet needs, such as—in the words of CVS CEO Larry Merlo—the lack of “convenience and coordination.”  Other benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Increase efficiency and convenience

• Lower the price of pharmaceuticals if not the overall cost of care

• Improve access to care

• Limit the current burden being put on ERs and their services

   

Opponents of the deal warn that the potential monopoly poses a risk of encouraging mediocrity in medicine, as well as a significant disruption to the continuity of care. To keep up with demand, CVS would have to acquire many more nurses in a short amount of time. The most likely solution will be to opt for candidates who have gone through accelerated programs (BSNs). Not only would this contribute to the already declining number of physicians, but it would also combine a lack of supervision with less education and experience.

Source: Medscape