The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Health and Human Services are extending the comment period for the Request for Information on Consolidation in Health Care Markets (RFI) by 30 days. The new deadline is June 5. In March, the agencies issued the RFI to understand how healthcare mergers, acquisitions and other transactions may decrease the number of firms competing to provide healthcare products or services. Increased firm consolidation may threaten patients’ health, workers’ safety, quality of care and affordability. The RFI requests public comment on transactions by health systems, private payers, private equity funds and other alternative asset managers. The agencies want to know more about these types of transactions in the healthcare industry, which involve direct or indirect providers, services or products. The RFI also seeks information about healthcare transactions with dollar amounts that are not large enough to require submission to the Justice Department or FTC for review.
