DOJ Sues Carolinas HealthCare Over Steering Restrictions

http://www.healthleadersmedia.com/leadership/doj-sues-carolinas-healthcare-over-steering-restrictions?spMailingID=9041425&spUserID=MTMyMzQyMDQxMTkyS0&spJobID=940977537&spReportId=OTQwOTc3NTM3S0#

carolinas-medical-center-1200xx2800-1575-186-0

Federal and state officials claim that the healthcare system used its market power to leverage steering restrictions in its contracts with major insurers, resulting in higher costs for consumers.

Who Makes Sure Hospital Mergers Do No Harm? Almost Nobody.

https://www.propublica.org/article/who-makes-sure-hospital-mergers-do-no-harm-almost-nobody

Hackley Hospital in Muskegon. (Date shot- 9/7/07)

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Elliot, Dartmouth-Hitchcock merger could face antitrust challenge

http://www.unionleader.com/Elliot-Dartmouth-Hitchcock-merger-could-face-antitrust-challenge-20160529?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=internal&mrkid=959610&mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiTUdSbVlqaGxNREEzT1dKaiIsInQiOiJ0SWRnQldqblRIcjRFaDBYeDg1SmR2WWJiZXZHbWIzajlDcFNrVmVqdzR4STlKS1BrTEtPYmdBRG9RMHZtdHpQaFVWcVk5ODVkTmN2UVFZS3V2YXlrZzRSeFRHdnBtbkVKM2s0a1ZCR3o4bz0ifQ%3D%3D

The recently announced decision by Dartmouth-Hitchcock in Lebanon and Elliot Health Systems in Manchester to pursue an alliance is just the latest move in a wave of consolidation that’s altering the health-care landscape in the Granite State.

The next stage in health reform

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/health360/posts/2016/05/26-next-stage-health-reform-aaron?utm_campaign=Brookings+Brief&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=30041023&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_AGn4Thn8Inuyc_igk7tSjtVMCb-JaqXsYBkb7NQyhEedpzf3Z1b_iYA3tbVpbHWqABocRNpikaooKtyt-j38BLbyOQA&_hsmi=30041023

health-care-reform-logo-001

Health reform (aka Obamacare) is entering a new stage. The recent announcement by United Health Care that it will stop selling insurance to individuals and families through most health insurance exchanges marks the transition. In the next stage, federal and state policy makers must decide how to use broad regulatory powers they have under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to stabilize, expand, and diversify risk pools, improve local market competition, encourage insurers to compete on product quality rather than premium alone, and promote effective risk management. In addition, insurance companies must master rate setting, plan design, and network management and effectively manage the health risk of their enrollees in order to stay profitable, and consumers must learn how to choose and use the best plan for their circumstances.

Payer Consolidation Expected to Roll on Over Next Decade

http://www.healthleadersmedia.com/health-plans/payer-consolidation-expected-roll-over-next-decade?spMailingID=8976156&spUserID=MTMyMzQyMDQxMTkyS0&spJobID=922552058&spReportId=OTIyNTUyMDU4S0

Health Insurer Consolidation

Senior-level healthcare industry stakeholders believe that consolidation in the payer space is likely to continue over the next ten years—and not to the benefit of consumers.

Hospitals claim the ACA demands mergers: Are judges warming up to the argument?

http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/legal-regulatory-issues/hospitals-claim-the-aca-demands-mergers-are-judges-warming-up-to-the-argument.html

Healthcare Law

Judges have largely dismissed the argument that hospitals need to merge to meet the demands of the Affordable Care Act, but a Pennsylvania judge recently accepted the “Obamacare-made-me-do-it” defense, according to the National Law Review. In defense to an antitrust challenge by the FTC, plenty of hospitals have argued mergers are necessary to meet ACA goals, such as moving away from the fee-for-service model and providing high quality care more efficiently.

FTC Chair Makes Clear Hospital Consolidation Hurdles

http://www.healthleadersmedia.com/leadership/ftc-chair-makes-clear-hospital-consolidation-hurdles?spMailingID=8945811&spUserID=MTMyMzQyMDQxMTkyS0&spJobID=921899248&spReportId=OTIxODk5MjQ4S0#

Exterior of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in Washington, D.C.

Exterior of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in Washington, D.C.

Hospital and health system mergers and acquisitions have grown by 70% since 2010. That means “vigorous enforcement of the antitrust laws is more important than ever,” says the chair of the Federal Trade Commission.

Merge ahead: Healthcare deals adapting as industry evolves

http://www.healthcaredive.com/news/merge-ahead-healthcare-deals-adapting-as-industry-evolves/418868/

There’s little doubt healthcare consolidation will continue as demand increases and the population ages. However, it remains to be seen whether the potential cost savings trickles down to consumers.

This health-care trend could make your hospital stay $2,000 more expensive

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2016/05/13/this-health-care-trend-could-make-your-hospital-stay-2000-more-expensive/?utm_campaign=CHL%3A+Daily+Edition&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=29610264&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-975AWgcmTkkC2d1jCNh05FbqpW8RJ8NybR11FkpIp8h6PTB7PNX77koXW7JFLnHO7C4pDPSvipWVgB0i0OHkFpoibl0g&_hsmi=29610264

Federal Trade Commission chairwoman Edith Ramirez is concerned that consolidation in health care is driving up prices for consumers.

Pennsylvania court sides with hospitals in merger ruling

http://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/pennsylvania-court-sides-hospitals-merger-ruling?mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiWXpnMk1XWTBOV00xWXpBMCIsInQiOiJ5TXFySzErK3dSZ1RTeVwveEljbGZmUDAwWnJYOGhDWlliSHB1TEM0XC9xKzA3TzZWUFJrcXI4blFIXC9lOU55OW1qSk1YNEE1TnQ5eXlabXFJcVgzYXhYaUdWdmVjSnlCdDFCblV5STIxYVVQTT0ifQ%3D%3D

Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Photo by <a href="http://www2.med.psu.edu/mdadmissions/about-us/penn-state-hershey-2/"> Penn State University </a>

U.S. District Court Judge rejects FTC, AG’s claims that Penn State Health merger would potentially raise prices.