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The Federal Trade Commission is currently accepting public comments on an application by Community Health Systems  to sell certain health care assets, as required under the FTC’s April 2014 final order settling charges that CHS’s acquisition of rival health system Health Management Associates, Inc. would likely be anticompetitive.

Community Health Systems is a Tennessee-based for-profit company, operating hospitals nationwide. The order requires CHS to sell Riverview Regional Medical Center and its associated assets in Alabama, and the Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center and its associated assets in South Carolina.

CHS has petitioned the FTC to approve the divestiture of the Carolina Pines assets to hospital operator Capella Healthcare, Inc. According to the application, Capella is well-positioned and financially capable of operating the Carolina Pines assets.

The Commission will decide whether to approve the proposed divestiture after expiration of a 30-day public comment period. Public comments may be submitted until November 20, 2014. Comments can also be filed electronically. Copies of the application can be found on the FTC’s website and as a link to this press release. (FTC File No. 131 0202, Docket No. C-4427; the staff contact is Daniel P. Ducore, Bureau of Competition, 202-326-2526)

The FTC’s Bureau of Competition works with the Bureau of Economics to investigate alleged anticompetitive business practices and, when appropriate, recommends that the Commission take law enforcement action. To inform the Bureau about particular business practices, call 202-326-3300, send an e-mail to antitrust{at}ftc{dot}gov, or write to the Office of Policy and Coordination, Bureau of Competition, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Room CC-5422, Washington, DC 20580. To learn more about the Bureau of Competition, read Competition Counts. Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.