The Federal Trade Commission will step up oversight and scrutiny of potential hospital mergers this year, the agency's commissioner Christine Wilson said at a conference last week, according to financial news website The Motley Fool.
Ms. Wilson said the close look at hospital deals is part of the agency's larger strategy to improve competition in the healthcare industry.
In addition to looking at potential mergers, the FTC will analyze past healthcare mergers to determine whether they reduced or raised costs.
The Motley Fool predicts it will be harder for major hospital operators to obtain FTC merger approvals.
The FTC also hopes to give medical practitioners more flexibility in adherence to anticompetitive practice laws and will push to get more biosimilars on the market, according to the report.
More articles on transactions and valuation:
Northwell acquires oncology practice
Mayo Regional, Northern Light Health merger gets state approval
Partners HealthCare inks deal with One Medical to expand primary care