FTC/DOJ workshop next week on health care competition

The Federal Trade Commission and Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice will host a public workshop Feb. 24-25 in Washington, DC, to examine “recent developments related to health care provider organization and payment models, with an emphasis on how they may affect competition in the provision of health care services.” Planned topics include early observations of accountable care organizations; alternatives to traditional fee-for-service payment models; trends in provider consolidation; trends in provider network and benefit design strategies; and early observations of health insurance exchanges. Written comments for the workshop, the second in a series, will be considered through April 30. For more on the event and to access a live webcast, click here.