FTC Testifies on Importance of Competition and Antitrust Enforcement to Lower-Cost, Higher-Quality Health Care

The Federal Trade Commission today told the Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Insurance of the Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation that competition and the agency’s antitrust enforcement improves health care in the United States in two ways – first, by preventing or stopping anticompetitive agreements to raise prices and second, by […]

Chairman, Commissioners Issue Statement on Endocare, Inc.s Announcement That it has Terminated its Merger Agreement with Galil Medical Ltd.

Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz, Commissioner Pamela Jones Harbour, and Commissioner William E. Kovacic have issued a joint statement in response to the announcement by Endocare, Inc., that it has terminated its merger agreement with Galil Medical Ltd. during the agency’s ongoing investigation. The statement can be found on the agency’s Web site and […]

FTC Staff Advises Louisiana Legislature That Amended Bill Would Further Restrict Competition to Provide Dental Care to States Most Vulnerable Children

Federal Trade Commission staff have filed a comment stating that the amended version of proposed Louisiana House Bill 687, if enacted, would further restrict competition to provide dental care to underserved children in the state, without providing any countervailing benefits to consumers. The staff believes that recent amendments to the bill would restrict the market […]

FTC Staff Comment Says Bills to Authorize Collective Bargaining by Minnesota Health Care Cooperatives will Raise Health Care Costs for Minnesota Consumers

According to the staff of the Federal Trade Commission, legislation pending before the Minnesota legislature that seeks to exempt certain activities by Minnesota health care cooperatives from federal and state antitrust law likely would raise health care costs and reduce insurance coverage for Minnesota consumers. The FTC’s Bureau of Competition, Bureau of Economics, and Office […]

FTC Approves Filing of Staff Comments Regarding Proposed Regulation of Retail Health Care Facilities in Illinois

Commission approval of filing of staff comments – The Commission has approved the filing of comments by the staff of the Office of Policy Planning and the Bureaus of Economics, Competition, and Consumer Protection with State Representative Elaine Nekritz, of the Illinois House of Representatives, regarding Illinois House Bill 5372 (HB 5372) and the proposed […]

FTC Designates Commissioner J. Thomas Rosch as ALJ in Case Challenging Inova Health System Foundations Acquisition of Prince William Health System, Inc.

The Federal Trade Commission has designated Commissioner J. Thomas Rosch as the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) in the administrative trial on the merits challenging the proposed acquisition by Inova Health System Foundation of Prince William Health System, Inc. The issuance of the complaint was announced by the FTC earlier today. The Administrative Procedure Act permits […]

FTC Submits Testimony to Florida State Senate Regarding Bill That Would Amend States Certificate of Need Laws

At the request of Florida Governor Charlie Crist, the Federal Trade Commission has submitted written testimony on health care competition, Florida’s certificate of need (CON) laws, and Florida Senate Bill 2326 (S.B. 2326) to the Florida Governor and State Senate. S.B. 2326 would eliminate certificate of need requirements for many categories of Florida health care […]

FTC to Host Workshop on Innovations in Health Care Delivery

The Federal Trade Commission will host a workshop on April 24, 2008, to examine recent trends related to health care delivery. This workshop will bring together representatives of physician and healthcare associations, industry, privacy groups, academia, federal and state government, and other experts. The workshop participants will engage in several panel discussions on competition and […]

FTC Submits Testimony to Alaska House of Representatives Regarding Bill That Would Amend States Certificate of Need Laws

At the request of Governor Sarah Palin and the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, the Federal Trade Commission has submitted written testimony to the Standing Committee on Health, Education, and Social Services of the state’s House of Representatives concerning health care competition, Alaska’s certificate of need (CON) laws, and House Bill 337 (H.B. […]

FTC Staff Submits Comments on Establishing Collective Bargaining for Independent Home Care Providers in Ohio

Commission approval of staff comments: At his request, staff of the FTC’s Office of Policy Planning, Bureau of Competition, and Bureau of Economics have submitted comments to Ohio State Senator William J. Seitz regarding Ohio Executive Order 2007 – 23S, issued by Governor Ted Strickland in July 2007 and entitled “Establishing Collective Bargaining for Home […]