November 18th, 2008

Reports the Philadelphia Inquirer:

“The Pennsylvania General Assembly’s Insurance Committee probably will not take any official action in favor of or against the proposed merger between Independence Blue Cross and Highmark Inc. when it meets tomorrow.

“The bottom line is that the law doesn’t require that we do anything, and even if we do do something, it doesn’t have anything to do with the final decision,” said Richard Speese, executive director of the House Insurance Committee for the Democrats.

The final decision on the merger, which would create the largest health insurer in the state and one of the country’s biggest, rests with Insurance Commissioner Joel Ario. Ario was appointed by Gov. Rendell.”

Read the rest of the article at the Inquirer.