A series of government hearings starting this month could set the framework for how the feds approach antitrust enforcement for health care providers.
The Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission will begin the hearings on competition and health care policy on Feb. 26- 28. Panels will discuss how consolidation has worked in various markets and how it has affected patients’ access to care.
Among other issues, the hearings will look at how quality is defined and measured in the health care marketplace and whether antitrust laws are applied appropriately to health care providers.
The session, to be held at the FTC Conference Center in Washington, will open a series of hearings to be held over the next seven months.