Commissioner's Conflict of Interest Question Remains Issue

The issue of whether Connecticut Insurance Commissioner Katharine Wade should oversee the proposed merger of Anthem Inc. and Bloomfield-based Cigna isn't expected to go away anytime soon.

Even though there's a new federal lawsuit aimed at derailing the coupling of the two insurance giants, the Citizens Ethics Advisory Board is proceeding with plans to issue a declaratory ruling this fall on whether Wade should be permitted under state ethics rules to regulate the industry and preside over the state's review of the proposed merger.

Also, state lawmakers will likely be asked in January to consider legislation that could change the state's ethics rules governing public officials, and possibly regulate appearances of conflicts of interest.

Wade, a former Cigna executive, has said she's taken steps to avoid any conflicts.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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