Maxicare Health Plans Inc., Los Angeles, and...

Maxicare Health Plans Inc., Los Angeles, and American HMO said they have signed a definitive agreement for American to acquire Ft. Smith, Ark.-based Maxicare Arkansas Inc., a 12,000-member health maintenance organization, for an undisclosed price . . . Short interest on the New York Stock Exchange rose 1,538,454 shares in the month ended Sept. 15 to 447,212,558 shares.