Federal Trade Commission v. HCA et al.

Why this Matters:

The Federal Trade Commission seeks a court order to stop one hospital system from acquiring three competing hospitals in the New Orleans area and to ensure that the hospital system complies with the federal antitrust reporting and waiting period requirements. These requirements play an important role in allowing for investigations into potential violations of antitrust law. Evidence shows that consolidation in the health care sector can lead to higher prices for individuals with private insurance while also potentially leading to lower quality care for patients.

Potential Impact

Ensuring that mergers by health care providers comply with antitrust laws can help reduce health care prices and lower health care premiums for consumers.