David Spett

HARRISBURG (Nov. 12) – Health care providers and insurers sparred at a roundtable discussion with the House Insurance Committee Wednesday about the potential effects of a “Blues merger” between Highmark, Inc. and Independence Blue Cross.

Kenneth Melani and Joseph Frick, president and CEO of Highmark and Independence, respectively, said a merger would allow their companies to eliminate inefficiencies and generate cost savings for consumers in turn.

But numerous critics said the merger would result in less competition among insurers and higher premiums for Pennsylvanians.

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