Antitrust agencies hold forum on health care merger effects

Apr 14, 2022 - 03:29 PM
hospital_merger

Following their recent request for information on ways to modernize merger guidelines, the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice today held a forum to hear from health care providers, consumers and advocates who have experienced firsthand the effects of mergers and acquisitions in health care. Many of the comments focused on pharmaceutical benefit manager mergers, private equity acquisitions, and hospital consolidation. Lisa Goldstein, senior vice president at health care consulting firm Kaufman Hall, said consolidation has helped some financially distressed hospitals avoid bankruptcy and closure. Sean May, vice president at the firm Charles River Associates, said hospital mergers are associated with improvements in clinical quality outcome measures at acquired hospitals, including a statistically significant reduction in inpatient readmission rates.    

AHA has urged the agencies to update their merger guidelines to properly recognize the benefits that mergers can provide to some hospitals and health systems and their patients and communities.

Related News Articles

Headline
AHA shares recommendations with ASTP/ONC on HTI-5 proposed rule
The AHA Feb. 27 shared recommendations on the Health Data, Technology and Interoperability: ASTP/ONC Deregulatory Actions to Unleash Prosperity proposed rule,…
Headline
AHA sends letter supporting FTC chairman’s position on bringing merger challenges to federal court
The AHA Feb. 24 commended recent remarks made by Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson on Feb. 20, in which he said the commission should bring…
Headline
District court vacates FTC changes to premerger notification rules
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas Feb. 12 vacated a final rule by the Federal Trade Commission that changed premerger notification…
Headline
AHA urges smarter AI regulation for advancing innovation, safety and access to health care
The AHA today submitted a letter to the Office of Science and Technology Policy in response to its request for information on regulatory reform for artificial…
Blog
Physician Practice Acquisitions: What Drives Them and Implications for Consumers and Payers
Public
Physicians are increasingly choosing to be employed instead of running their own small practices. Though a far higher percentage of physicians remain in…
Headline
AHA, FAH file amicus brief in lawsuit against FTC for changes to premerger notification rule
The AHA and Federation of American Hospitals Aug. 8 filed an amicus brief in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in support of the U.S.…