Keckley Report July 12, 2021
Friday afternoon, President Biden signed the “Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy”, the 51st of his administration and most consequential to healthcare since signing the “Strengthening Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act” January 28 (EO 14009).
This order is broad targeting business practices and merger/acquisition activity deemed anti-competitive that limit competition, contribute to higher prices for consumers and lower wages for employees. Included in the Order’s 72 directives are 10 directed to key federal agencies (U.S. Department of Justice DOJ, U.S. Federal Trade Commission FTC, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services HHS, U.S. Food and Drug Administration FDA):
DOJ and FTC to review and revise their guidelines on hospital mergers to limit harm to...