Physician Practice Mergers: The Key Antitrust Issues 

Description

The increasing consolidation among providers through physician practice mergers and acquisitions can raise antitrust concerns, including attention from the antitrust enforcement agencies. In April, for example, the Federal Trade Commission issued a public statement concerning its investigation of the proposed acquisition of two cardiology practices in Spokane, WA, by Providence Health & Services and the parties’ abandonment of the transaction. This roundtable discussion will explore the key antitrust issues for physician practice mergers and acquisitions that can threaten to derail a deal. Topics covered will include:

• The forces driving physician mergers;
• The applicable antitrust laws;
• Difficult market definition issues; and
• How merging parties can minimize antitrust risk. 

Presenters

• Christi J. Braun, Esquire
  Member
  Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo PC, Washington, DC

• Monica Noether, PhD
  Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
  Charles River Associates, Boston, MA

Moderator

• Saralisa Brau, Esquire
  Deputy Assistant Director
  Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC