"California is a large, influential state and is a state that traditionally ...

... has had a relatively strict regulatory regime, so their coming out and saying positive things [about Aetna's acquisition of Humana] is a real positive for momentum around the deal. It does not technically affect the Justice Dept. review, but it creates a positive climate for progress with the acquisition."

— Dan Mendelson, CEO of the consulting firm Avalere Health, told AIS's Medicare Advantage News for a story on the California Dept. of Managed Health Care's recent approval of the deal based on certain conditions