By NextBestFitAntitrust enforcement for hospital and physician mergers
amendedYear 4Provider payment & regulation
Today
FTC challenges some mergers because consolidation raises commercial prices.
Under the plan
Price effects disappear under one fee schedule; merger review refocuses on access, quality, and capacity in each region.
Trade-off
Consolidation no longer raises prices, so more mergers may be allowed; that can still reduce patient choice and quality competition.