New York threatens to block $69B CVS-Aetna merger

New York regulators on Thursday threatened to block CVS Health’s $69 billion merger with Aetna, demanding that the companies not raise insurance premiums in New York and that its pharmacy-benefits manager submit to state regulation. New York is the last major obstacle that CVS, one of the nation’s largest drugstore chains and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), has in getting clearance to buy the nation’s third-largest insurer.