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US: FTC issues new criticism of MSHA / Wellmont merger

By  |  January 8, 2017

One week before the state’s deadline to decide on the proposed merger of the region’s two hospital systems, the Federal Trade Commission once again is speaking out against the deal.

Thursday, FTC staff submitted additional comment and analysis of the proposed merger of Mountain States Health Alliance and Wellmont Health System.

The report was submitted to the Tennessee Department of Health which is the agency in charge of deciding if the two companies should be granted a Certificate of Public Advantage. The COPA is the state’s mechanism for overseeing a healthcare merger that would reduce local competition.

FTC staff once again urged the Commissioner of Health to reject the COPA application saying a Mountain States and Wellmont merger would lead to “significant harm to residents of northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia.” The FTC staff’s stance has been that combining the companies would harm the public by removing competition.

Full Content: WJHL

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