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The American Hospital Association is renewing its opposition to Anthem Inc.’s acquisition of Cigna Corp., arguing the transaction would further hurt competition by increasing the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association’s market power in the health insurance industry. (Camseddine, 3/2)

Officials with California’s Kaiser Foundation Health Plan have formally applied to acquire Seattle’s Group Health Cooperative, the next step in the controversial proposal, Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler said Wednesday. The application launches a review of the proposed deal, which would make the Northwest co-op part of Kaiser Permanente’s 10.1 million members in eight states and Washington, D.C. (Aleccia, 3/2)