Dive Brief:
- Aetna is working to align its corporate culture with that of Humana, in anticipation of the much-ballyhooed merger, Louisville Business First reported.
- Speaking at Barclays Global Healthcare Conference in Miami, Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini said ironing out cultural differences now will ensure that things run smoothly after the merger is completed.
- Federal antitrust regulators still need to approve the $37 million deal between Connecticut-based Aetna and insurance heavyweight Humana.
Dive Insight:
Both companies share certain common goals, such as self-based governance and greater staff engagement and trust. The devil is in the details, though, when it comes to real integration, Bertolini said.
Because cultural differences have hampered integration with other companies Aetna has acquired, the idea with Humana was to address any sticking points early on. To help ease the transition, Aetna has hired an integration specialist who reports directly to Bertolini.
The insurance exec also made a plug for Medicare Advantage, saying the plans could prove a lifeline for Medicare, Modern Healthcare reported. Aetna currently has more than 1.36 million Advantage enrollees and will participate in markets comprising more than 90% of the eligible Medicare population when it combines with Humana.
More than 18 million Americans currently are enrolled in Medicare Advantage.