Health Care Consolidation: What You Need to Know

*** OPEN ONLY TO MEMBERS OF THE PRESS ***A top Federal Trade Commission official, along with key experts, met with reporters Dec. 15 to discuss the recent surge in health care consolidation; the driving forces behind this trend; and the implications for policymakers and enforcers.

In 2014, there were a total of 1,299 mergers and acquisitions in the health care sector – a record number, up from 1,035 the year before. That includes a recent spike in pharmaceutical transactions, including inversions, which base U.S. drug companies overseas.

Speakers provided the latest information about the roles of the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission; efforts by policymakers; the scope and extent of consolidation among doctors, hospitals, insurers and pharmaceutical companies; and implications for consumers and other stakeholders.

Deborah Feinstein, director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Competition

Andrea Murino, partner and co-chair of Goodwin Procter’s antitrust practice

George Slover, senior policy counsel at Consumers Union

Alan Weil of Health Affairs and Marilyn Serafini of the Alliance for Health Reform moderated.

With thanks to the The Jayne Koskinas Ted Giovanis Foundation for Health and Policy for its support of this briefing.

Transcript

Full Transcript (Adobe Acrobat PDF)