Policy Examples

• The Federal Trade Commission is requesting information from five health insurers and two hospital systems as part of a study looking into hospital merger reviews. They must submit patient billing data, salary data, and other information by January 2020 to give federal officials a better idea whether deals approved via “certificates of public advantage” better serve the public, or the merging hospitals. source

Outcome Evidence

• A report by Milbank Memorial Fund in 2018 examined COPA in Tennessee and Virginia. They concluded COPAs are a risky policy solution because they permit health care mergers that would not pass antitrust scrutiny and may result in untenable price increases and other adverse effects. On the other hand, COPAs may offer potential benefits in terms of population health and access particularly for struggling rural communities. source