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In a July 24, 2015 post, CNN reports:  

In another merger of health insurance giants, Anthem has agreed to acquire Cigna in a $54 billion deal.

Anthem (ANTM), a Blue Cross and Blue Shield insurer, said it would buy all of Cigna's (CI) shares in a cash and stock transaction.

The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2016, if it passes state regulatory approvals and other requirements. The merged insurer would cover 53 million members.

The merger would leave only three major players in the insurance industry.

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The author of the article, Aaron Smith, further states:

Some doctors are concerned that the mergers will put too much power in just a handful of insurance companies. The American Medical Association said the mergers will "reduce competition and decrease choice."

There are also worries that costs for customers will go up because of less competition.

But the health insurers are defending their move. "This will actually improve efficiencies and reduce costs for consumers down the line," said Cigna spokesman Matt Asensio.

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Miami resident and pharmacy owner Evelio Fernandez Penaranda pleaded guilty Thursday for his involvement in an $1.8 million Medicare fraud scheme, according to the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida.

Penaranda pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud. He was indicted in June as part of a nationwide Medicare fraud takedown authorities called the largest in U.S. history.

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Virgil Dickson, in a 7.23.15 Modern Healthcare post, reports: 

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee is asking to delay Stage 3 Meaningful-Use Rules, its chairman, Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), said during a news conference Thursday.

This will be one of several recommendations his committee will make to the Obama administration in a push to expand the use of electronic health records, which some providers say are costly and time-consuming. Sen. Alexander expressed hope that healthcare would not "go backwards on EHRs," but discussed the possibility of delaying MU3 to ensure the process goes smoothly.