Dec 3, 2017

4 big questions for CVS-Aetna mega-merger

Dan Primack

CVS has reportedly put in an offer to buy Aetna. Photo: AP file

CVS on Sunday night said that it will acquire health insurer Aetna for around $69 billion in cash and stock. Four big questions that remain unanswered by this evening's press release:

1. What will be the relationship between CVS and those covered by Aetna insurance? For example, will an Aetna customer be required to purchase medications within the CVS network, or use urgent care facilities for services that can be handled by CVS MinuteClinic? If not, will there be surcharges for going to a rival pharmacy?

2. CVS and Aetna discussed data synergies, but how far will those extend? For example, will your health insurer learn about your junk food habit?

3. How will this affect negotiations between non-Aetna insurers and CVS? Will Aetna rivals play hardball with CVS and/or softball with other pharmacies?

4. Will other pharmacy chains feel pressure to do a similar acquisition? Big CVS rivals like Walmart, Kroger and Walgreens could soon take a hard look at insurers like Anthem, Cigna, Humana and United Health. And how does Amazon — which is rumored to be looking at both pharmacy and pharma — react?

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Axios

World coronavirus updates: Total cases surge to over 700,000

Data: The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins, the CDC, and China's Health Ministry. Note: China numbers are for the mainland only and U.S. numbers include repatriated citizens and confirmed plus presumptive cases from the CDC

There are now than more than 700,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus around the world, according to data from Johns Hopkins. The virus has now killed more than 32,000 people — with Italy alone reporting over 10,000 deaths.

The big picture: Governments around the world have stepped up public health and economic measures to stop the spread of the virus and soften the financial impact. In the U.S., now the site of the largest outbreak in the world, President Trump said Saturday he would issue a "strong" travel advisory for New York, New Jersey and parts of Connecticut.

Go deeperArrowUpdated 12 mins ago - Health
Axios

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 2 p.m. ET: 704,095 — Total deaths: 33,509 — Total recoveries: 148,824.
  2. U.S.: Leads the world in cases. Total confirmed cases as of 2 p.m. ET: 132,637 — Total deaths: 2,351 — Total recoveries: 2,612.
  3. Federal government latest: The first federal prisoner to die from coronavirus was reported from a correctional facility in Louisiana on Sunday.
  4. Public health updates: Fauci says 100,000 to 200,000 Americans could die from virus.
  5. State updates: Louisiana governor says state is on track to exceed ventilator capacity by end of this week — Cuomo says Trump's mandatory quarantine comments "really panicked" people
  6. World updates: Italy on Sunday reported 756 new deaths, bringing its total 10,779. Spain reported almost 840 dead, another new daily record that bring its total to over 6,500.
  7. What should I do? Answers about the virus from Axios experts — What to know about social distancing — Q&A: Minimizing your coronavirus risk
  8. Other resources: CDC on how to avoid the virus, what to do if you get it.

Subscribe to Mike Allen's Axios AM to follow our coronavirus coverage each morning from your inbox.

Keep ReadingArrowUpdated 16 mins ago - Politics & Policy
Jacob Knutson

Cuomo: Trump's mandatory quarantine comments "really panicked people"

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a press conference Sunday that President Trump's unexpected Saturday announcement of a possible "short-term" quarantine of New York, New Jersey and parts of Connecticut to curb the spread of the coronavirus "really panicked people."

Why it matters: Though Trump ruled out the mandatory quarantine later that day, Cuomo said people still called "all night long" asking about the comments and many likely fled the New York area — possibly spreading the virus further.

Go deeperArrow2 hours ago - Health