The FTC won its bid to block Hackensack Meridian Health Inc.’s proposed acquisition of Englewood Healthcare Foundation, allowing the agency to pursue an administrative case against the New Jersey hospital merger, Bloomberg reports.
The commission, which sought a preliminary injunction against the deal in December 2020, said the merger would allow Hackensack Meridian Health to demand higher rates from insurers, resulting in higher insurance premiums, co-pays, deductibles, or other out-of-pocket costs for plan members.
Hackensack Meridian is the largest healthcare system in New Jersey, covering eight counties. Englewood is a nonprofit independent hospital and healthcare network. Read more.
