MEDICAL DEAL NOT DONE? GEORGIA MAY SEEK CALIFORNIA-STYLE CONCESSIONS FROM WELLPOINT, ANTHEM.Byline: Evan Pondel Staff Writer Georgia insurance regulators are considering asking Anthem Inc. and WellPoint Health Networks Inc. for concessions after the two companies agreed to give California an additional $100 million to serve the poor. ``The state is possibly seeking some compensation,'' Glenn Allen, spokesman for Georgia's insurance commissioner, John Oxendine John Oxendine is the current Commissioner of Insurance of the U.S. state of Georgia. Oxendine, a Republican, was first elected in 1994 and reelected in 1998, 2002, and 2006. Biographical Information Oxendine is the son of Gwinnett Superior Court Judge James W. , said Thursday afternoon. Allen would not disclose the extent of the compensation. On Tuesday, California Insurance Commissioner California Insurance Commissioner is an elected executive office position in California who is in charge of the California Department of Insurance. The current Insurance Commissioner is Steve Poizner. John Garamendi John Raymond Garamendi (born January 24, 1945) is a U.S. politician and a member of the Democratic Party. He became the 46th Lieutenant Governor of California on January 8 2007. signed off on WellPoint's and Anthem's multibillion-dollar merger after the companies agreed to several commitments. At the time, analysts expressed concern that other states would take issue with the concessions made in California, possibly foiling the deal. Georgia has been the focal point focal point n. See focus. ever since the state rescinded its approval of the deal after Garamendi's intervention earlier this year. The Southern state is among WellPoint's more lucrative regions, with the health care provider controlling more than 30 percent of the market share in Georgia. But if the state does ask for more concessions, ``I don't think it's going to derail de·rail intr. & tr.v. de·railed, de·rail·ing, de·rails 1. To run or cause to run off the rails. 2. the merger,'' said Adam Miller, an analyst with Williams Capital Group in New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of . Wisconsin has also generated concern among investors, with WellPoint controlling more than 10 percent of the market share. The state is waiting for Indianapolis-based Anthem to disclose whether the concessions in California have a material effect on the deal. If that's the case, ``we have the right to review the deal,'' said Eileen Mallow mallow, common name for members of the Malvaceae, a family of herbs and shrubs distributed over most of the world and especially abundant in the American tropics. Tropical species sometimes grow as small trees. , assistant deputy insurance commissioner in Wisconsin. Anthem is contacting insurance commissioners across the country to field questions about the deal. When asked whether the concessions in California would materially affect the deal, Anthem spokesman Ed West said no. In other states, the deputy insurance commissioner of Texas met with Anthem and WellPoint's lead counsel Tuesday, with the California concessions ``not causing any major grief,'' Danny Saenz, deputy insurance commissioner, said. California's Department of Managed Health Care is also poised to revisit the deal, potentially posing another potential obstacle. But Miller said he is dubious about further setbacks. Evan Pondel, (818) 713-3662 evan.pondel(at)dailynews.com |
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