Healtheon Merger Completed

Healtheon Corp., WebMD Inc., Mede America Corp. and Greenberg News Networks Co. completed their merger, creating an Internet-based medical information system linking patients, doctors, insurers and suppliers. The merger accelerates talks with Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. about a $1.1-billion investment in cash, assets and promotion in the new Healtheon/WebMD, people familiar with the talks said. The investment could be announced as early as Monday, they said. News Corp. formed its Epartners Internet unit in April to make investments in online companies, and an agreement with Healtheon/WebMD could blunt criticism it has been slow to develop a Web strategy.