"The Outrageous Cost of Healthcare: Unveiling the Impact of Hospital Mergers"

Hospital mergers and consolidation in the healthcare industry have led to decreased patient choice, hindered innovation, eroded quality, and raised prices. The Biden administration has taken steps to address this issue by ordering the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to be more aggressive in reviewing and potentially blocking hospital mergers. However, the FTC faces challenges in proving the anticompetitive effects of these mergers and lacks the resources to effectively address the problem. State legislatures have also passed laws to shield hospitals from antitrust action, further hindering efforts to curb consolidation. Some economists suggest that price regulation may be necessary to restore competition in the healthcare market.