equitablegrowth.org - Hospital consolidation matters - How antitrust enforcement in the United States can improve

In the following pages, this report will revisit a recent and detailed report on the rising consolidation of hospitals in the United States and the harms (and occasional benefits) of this trend for healthcare providers and patients, as well as the nation’s overall fiscal and economic outlook. [...] Hospital consolidation matters 5 The state of hospital consolidation and its impacts The scale of the hospital sector in the United States is enormous.10 It accounts for $1.3 trillion of healthcare spending, and continuing to grow more rapidly than other healthcare sectors, including physician and clinical services and prescription drugs.11 Additionally, the hospital sector has experienced a wave. [...] Montague at the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly of UC Hastings) and others provides an insightful and thorough overview of some of the major issues and research to date.84 In addition to regulatory authority, state authorities can bring lawsuits to block and unwind hospital mergers under federal and state laws. [...] What is needed to move from the realm of ideas to the realm of policy action is the will on behalf of federal legislators, the executive branch, and the agencies to make it happen. [...] GDP.91 While the lack of competition in hospital and healthcare markets is a drag on GDP, it is also hurting the pocketbooks and the health of patients, impacting jobs and wages for those who work in healthcare and even those who do not, and undermining businesses, local economies, and state budgets.