FTC Moves to Block Two Hospital Mergers
By Consumers for Quality Care, on June 22, 2022
According to Healthcare Dive, The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is suing to block two separate hospital mergers in Utah and New Jersey.
In one suit, the FTC has sued to block HCA Healthcare from acquiring Steward Health Care System, claiming that the deal would hamper competition and raise prices in Utah. The FTC is also suing to block RWJBarnabas Health’s acquisition of Saint Peter’s Healthcare in New Jersey, alleging that the deal would increase prices and reduce quality of care for patients.
FTC commissioners have already challenged numerous hospital deals this year, including ones between Rhode Island’s two largest health systems and New Jersey’s largest health system. The Biden administration has pledged to crack down on health care consolidation with the signing of an executive order that pushes for the FTC to aggressively enforce competition laws.
CQC urges lawmakers and regulators to further scrutinize hospital mergers to prevent consumers from being harmed by a reduction in choice and higher prices for health care.
