Speaking at an industry conference on November 13, U.S. Assistant Attorney General Bill Baer reiterated the government’s focus on competition concerns in the health care industry. According to Baer, head of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division, while the Affordable Care Act (ACA) “promotes …
Words Hurt: FTC Challenges Proposed Hospital Merger Using Parties’ Own Statements
November 9, 2015 Leave a Comment
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC or Commission) authorized action on November 6 to block the proposed merger of two hospitals located in Huntington, West Virginia. The FTC issued an administrative complaint alleging that the transaction would create a near monopoly for general acute care inpatient hospital …
Ninth Circuit Denies Rehearing to St. Luke’s Health System
April 22, 2015 Leave a Comment
The Ninth Circuit will not reconsider its decision to force St. Luke’s Health System to unwind its purchase of Saltzer Medical Group, the largest physician practice group in the relevant Idaho market. The ruling leaves in place a victory for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the merger row. In February, …
FTC Remains Focused on Health Care in 2015
April 20, 2015 Leave a Comment
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC or Commission) recently published its annual highlights, revealing that health care remains a top priority for the Commission. The FTC reported that nearly half of its enforcement actions for the preceding five years focused on the health care industry, including …
Ninth Circuit Upholds Ruling for FTC in Hospital Merger Challenge
February 10, 2015 Leave a Comment
The Ninth Circuit upheld a district court’s ruling ordering St. Luke’s Health System to unwind its purchase of the Saltzer Medical Group. The decision is another victory for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in its renewed focus on potential competition concerns in health care. The FTC originally sued to …
FTC Seeks Public Comments on Proposed Merger Study
January 9, 2015 Leave a Comment
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced today that it is seeking public comments on a proposed study of the effectiveness of the FTC’s orders in merger cases where it ordered a divestiture or other remedy. The proposed study would update a 1999 report issued by the FTC that evaluated consent orders …