U.S. Department of Justice forms Task Force on Health Care Monopolies and Collusion to Address Competition Concerns in Healthcare Industry

The U.S. Department of Justice has taken a significant step in addressing healthcare monopolies and collusion by announcing the formation of the Antitrust Division’s Task Force on Health Care Monopolies and Collusion (HCMC). This task force will play a crucial role in guiding the division’s enforcement strategy and policy approach in healthcare markets.

Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter highlighted the importance of this initiative, stating that a small number of payers, providers, and dominant intermediaries have consolidated their power in communities across the country, leading to increased costs and decreased quality in healthcare. The HCMC aims to identify and root out monopolies and collusive practices that harm consumers and healthcare professionals.

The impact of the HCMC will be far-reaching, addressing concerns related to payer-provider consolidation, serial acquisitions, labor and quality of care, medical billing, healthcare IT services, and access to healthcare data. The task force will bring together a diverse group of experts, including civil and criminal prosecutors, economists, industry professionals, technologists, and policy advisors, to tackle pressing antitrust issues in healthcare markets.

Katrina Rouse, a seasoned antitrust prosecutor, will lead the HCMC and serve as the division’s deputy director of civil enforcement and special counsel for healthcare. The division welcomes input from the public, encouraging practitioners, patients, researchers, and business owners to share their experiences and insights on competition concerns in the healthcare industry.

The formation of the HCMC comes at a critical time, as healthcare monopolies have been shown to have a detrimental effect on consumers’ premiums and out-of-pocket spending. Hospital consolidation, in particular, has led to increased outpatient facility fees, resulting in higher premiums and financial exposure for consumers. By addressing these issues, the task force aims to promote healthy competition and protect consumers in the healthcare market.

To learn more about the HCMC and share your experiences with the task force, visit HealthyCompetition.gov.