New federal guidelines could crimp UPMC’s plans to merge with an independent health system in Washington County, PA, a rare snag in the torrid pace of growth for the Pittsburgh-based health care giant.
The Federal Trade Commission and the antitrust division of the Department of Justice jointly issued proposed merger guidelines July 18, which could complicate health care mergers by adding more detailed criteria to the review process. If enacted, the changes could also slow or derail UPMC’s planned affiliation with Washington Health System, experts say.
Comments on the new guidelines will be accepted until Sept. 18, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
“The Biden administration has been very vocal in saying they’re going to be very aggressive in the number of challenges and in trying novel theories of potential harm,” said Lauren Norris Donahue, partner and antitrust attorney in the Chicago office of K&L Gates. “It’s across all industries, but health care has been a focus of the Biden administration for enforcement actions.” Read more.
