FTC Administrative Actions and Comments Indicate Shifting Landscape for Hospitals and Other Providers

Last year was a busy year for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) as it continued to increase its focus on mergers involving healthcare providers, and there is no reason to believe that enforcement will slow in 2016. From a court order to unwind St. Luke’s Health System’s acquisition of a physician practice to the intense scrutiny on the proposed merger of Mountain States Health Alliance and Wellmont Health System, it is clear that the FTC intends to continue its active enforcement of the antitrust laws in the healthcare industry. For a detailed analysis of the shifting antitrust landscape for hospitals and other providers, visit the ABA Health Law Section’s Health eSource.