The Federal Trade Commission submitted a second comment to the Indiana Department of Health March 17 requesting the state agency deny Terre Haute, Ind.-based Union Health's application to acquire Terre Haute Regional Hospital, part of Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare.
In September 2024, the FTC submitted its first comment urging the state to reject the merger, arguing that it was proposed under a certificate of public advantage that could protect it from antitrust scrutiny and lead to a deal that could worsen health outcomes for Indiana patients, raise costs and lower hospital worker wages.
Union Health then withdrew its COPA application nine days prior to the state making its final decision on the merger in late November 2024 and resubmitted a new COPA application in February.
The FTC argued in its second comment that the new COPA exhibits the same anticompetitive harms as the first application, according to a March 17 news release.
"This repackaged COPA application presents the same problems as before," Clarke Edwards, acting director of the FTC's Office of Policy Planning, said in the release. "Competition consistently results in better outcomes for patients and workers than consolidation subject to COPAs. The Indiana Department of Health should deny this attempt by Vigo County's only two hospitals to eliminate competition and avoid antitrust review."
A spokesperson for Terre Haute Regional Hospital said in a March 17 statement shared with Becker's that the hospital is focused on the COPA process and is working with the state health department to "make sure they have the information needed to make an informed decision regarding the healthcare needs of the Wabash Valley."
Becker's has reached out to the Indiana Department of Health and Union Health, and will update this story should more information become available.