Although Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini deferred comment on a potential $70 billion deal with CVS Health, he said Aetna's future delivery system will harness personalized treatment, according to a Hartford Courant report.
During a technology conference in Half Moon Bay, Calif. on Tuesday, Mr. Bertolini spoke about a recent meeting with George Blankenship, former executive at Apple, GAP and Tesla Motors. When asked if Aetna is considering an Apple-like business model, Mr. Bertolini said, "It's a real deal."
Mr. Bertolini added making Aetna's business more consumer-centric starts with understanding patients' wants. Some analysts predict CVS Health's bid for Aetna is an effort to stay ahead of Amazon. Other industry experts attributed the proposed merger to another competitor — UnitedHealth Group.
While the deal remains unconfirmed, sources familiar with the deal told Reuters Aetna and CVS Health want to finalize their proposed merger as soon as December.
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