Government agencies soften stance on what constitutes price fixing.
The Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice have modified their views on what constitutes price fixing by integrated delivery systems. Recently released enforcement policy statements indicate that joint agreements on price between competing providers will not necessarily constitute price fixing, even without risk sharing, if the system is sufficiently integrated. The enforcement policy statements indicate that if integration arises from the combined efforts of previously competing providers, involves improvements in clinical efficiency or quality, and demonstrates no anticompetitive intent, it will be sufficient to withstand Federal scrutiny.
Ettinger
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Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn, Detroit, MI, USA.
Lasser
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D016363:Antitrust Laws; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D004465:Economic Competition / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006759:Hospital-Physician Joint Ventures / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D011907:Rate Setting and Review / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D012306:Risk; D014481:United States; D014485:United States Federal Trade Commission