Antitrust Byte

3 weeks ago | natlawreview.com | Antitrust Byte |E. John Steren |Patricia Wagner |Valerie Demont

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently submitted comments in opposition to a renewed application for a certificate of public advantage (COPA) that would, if granted, allow two hospitals in Indiana to merge despite potential antitrust concerns. In its submission, the FTC suggested that it had no institutional bias against COPAs but routinely objects because of the price increases, declines in quality, and lower wages that the FTC argues result from most mergers subject to a COPA.