HEALTH CARE Regulators permit merger deal between Anthem, WellPoint

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A merger creating the nation's largest managed-care provider received approval from federal regulators.
The Justice Department declined Friday to block the multibillion-dollar deal between Anthem Inc. and WellPoint Health Networks Inc. on antitrust grounds.
The cash and stock deal was valued at $14.3 billion when it was announced last October.
Under the proposed merger, the slightly smaller Anthem would acquire WellPoint of Thousand Oaks, Calif. The combined entity would keep the larger company's name but consolidate operations in Indianapolis, where Anthem has headquarters.
Leonard Schaeffer, chairman and chief executive of WellPoint, has said the merged company hopes to "redefine the industry" with new products that offer its members more choices, better services including information, and simpler transactions.
Anthem owns Blue plans in nine states: Colorado, Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, New Hampshire, Nevada, Ohio and Virginia. WellPoint operates Blue plans in California, Georgia and Missouri, and recently won approval to acquire Wisconsin's plan.