STAT+: The FTC says it’s getting tougher on hospital consolidation. Antitrust experts aren’t buying it

Antitrust experts say the FTC’s two recent hospital merger challenges don’t show a tougher approach to health care consolidation. Here’s what would.

After the Federal Trade Commission’s flashy announcements last week that it was suing to block not one, but two hospital mergers, it’s tempting to think the agency — with its new Democratic majority — is living up to pledges from its leaders and President Biden to get tougher on health care consolidation.

Antitrust experts see it differently.

Continue to STAT+ to read the full story…