FTC clears Ascension-AmSurg deal after surgery center divestitures
The Federal Trade Commission approved a final consent order for Ascension Health Alliance’s proposed $3.9 billion acquisition of AmSurg LLC after requiring divestitures in seven ambulatory surgery centers.
The Federal Trade Commission approved a final consent order for Ascension Health Alliance’s proposed $3.9 billion acquisition of AmSurg LLC after requiring divestitures in seven ambulatory surgery centers.
The Federal Trade Commission said Tuesday it approved a final consent order resolving its antitrust concerns over Ascension Health Alliance’s proposed $3.9 billion acquisition of AmSurg LLC.
The order requires Ascension to divest seven AmSurg ambulatory surgery centers in metro areas around Nashville, Tennessee; Panama City, Florida; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Waco, Texas; and Wichita, Kansas. Six of the centers will go to SC Affiliates, and the Panama City center will go to Florida Gastroenterology Center, the FTC said.
The agency said the deal raised competition concerns in outpatient surgical services performed by gastroenterologists, ophthalmologists and orthopedists. In its complaint, the FTC said reduced competition could lead to higher surgery prices, lower quality of care and less innovation in those markets.
The order also requires Ascension to give the FTC prior notice before acquiring ambulatory surgical centers in the metropolitan areas around the divested centers.
After a public comment period, the commission voted 2-0 to approve the final order.
The FTC said the divestitures are intended to preserve competition in outpatient procedures where patients often have limited nearby alternatives.
The press release did not include a response from Ascension or AmSurg.
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