Express Scripts and Medco Health Solutions, the largest U.S. pharmacy benefits management companies, said Thursday they will combine in a deal worth $29.1 billion in cash and stock.

Gilead Sciences Inc., one of the world's biggest producers of AIDS drugs, will allow some of them to be made by generic manufacturers — potentially increasing their availability in poor countries, particularly in Africa, officials said Tuesday.

A panel working on competitiveness issues for South Carolina's proposed state-run health care exchange is planning to meet.

First-time claims for unemployment insurance in Louisiana for the week ending July 2 increased from the previous week's total.

A partial eligibility freeze for Arizona's Medicaid program takes effect Friday.

Bank of America Corp. has reached a deal to sell its Balboa Life Insurance Co. unit to Securian Financial Group Inc. a privately held insurance and retirement planning company based in St. Paul, Minn.

President Barack Obama says the uncertainty over whether lawmakers will raise the nation's debt limit is keeping businesses from hiring.

Three firms are vying to advise the Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration on efforts to privatize a Louisiana state worker health insurance program.