Officials from Kingsport, Tenn.-based Wellmont Health System and Johnson City, Tenn.-based Mountain States Health Alliance responded to the Federal Trade Commission's concerns regarding a potential merger between the two health systems, according to WJHL.com.
At a public forum on Sept. 30, FTC officials expressed their concern that the quality of care for residents may decrease, while hospital costs for patients may rise as a result of the merger.
Officials from both health systems responded to the FTC's concerns, arguing the FTC did not "engage [the health systems] directly in trying to understand the uniqueness of [their] approach related to the merger in [their] region" and that the FTC generally maintains a "very narrow view of mergers of this sort, mainly focusing on competition," according to the article.
Hospital officials said the merged entity, which would be called Ballad Health, would improve the quality of care for patients while keeping costs low. Officials also claim the FTC's opinion does not carry much weight because prior Supreme Court rulings indicate that federal antitrust laws do not supersede state policy, according to the article.
In response to the proposed merger, the states of Tennessee and Virginiachanged state laws to create state oversight to protect consumers.
Officials from both hospitals and the FTC will meet with the Southwest Virginia Health Authority Oct. 26.