The trade group for Oregon hospitals has sued to overturn a toughest-in-the-nation state law that regulates mergers between health care companies, writes The Lund Report.
The Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems filed a federal lawsuit against the state to overturn House Bill 2362, which lawmakers passed last year. Under the law, the Oregon Health Authority analyzes transactions and solicits public comment. Regulators can deny or attach conditions to significant consolidations that would result in higher prices, less competition or restricted access.
The law is intended to, among other things, protect access to abortion and other reproductive health services such as by restricting expansions of religious-based providers.
The lawsuit, which names OHA and its director, Pat Allen, echoes earlier complaints by the hospitals. Read more.
