The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) advised the New York State Department of Health against granting an antitrust law exception to SUNY Upstate Medical University and Crouse Health System’s merger bid.
SUNY Upstate (pictured) and Crouse proposed plans to merge in April. In July, they filed an application with the state for the certificate of public advantage (COPA) that would allow them to move forward.
FTC answered the health department’s request for public comment with an 88-page submission (PDF) that argued a merger would likely drive higher costs, lower care quality, reduce access to care and lead to lower wages for hospital workers. Read more.
