Competition
By advocating for balanced antitrust regulations and thoughtful oversight, HLC aims to ensure and protect appropriate, market-based business transactions.
The Issue
Private-sector competition is essential to the healthcare industry. Allowing healthcare organizations to differentiate their offerings based on quality, outcomes, and value fuels innovation, expands patient choice, and improves both efficiency and affordability.
Like other American businesses, healthcare entities respond to consumer and market demands by developing cutting-edge technologies, optimizing services and quality, and expanding offerings to meet consumer needs. Opportunities for entities to collaborate in serving patients are critical to realize the potential for value-based care to improve outcomes.
Excessive regulatory intervention, including stifling scrutiny of lawful consolidation, can disrupt coordination, hinder investment, and stifle innovation and economic growth—seriously impacting patients.
Policy Solutions
HLC supports policies that encourage healthy competition, balanced oversight, and sustainable market practices. HLC remains committed to promoting a competitive yet integrated healthcare landscape where mergers and acquisitions can contribute to system improvements and long-term patient benefits.
Balance Regulatory Oversight to Encourage Innovation, Growth and Resiliency
Ensuring that regulatory scrutiny considers both the positive and potential negative impacts of lawful merger and acquisition activity is essential to preserve a competitive healthcare landscape. HLC recommends incorporating the benefits of competition in regulatory reviews and ensuring flexibility in supply chain and contracting practices.
Empower Consumers and Promote Market Transparency
A competitive market thrives when users can access clear, reliable information to make informed decisions. HLC recommends enhancing useful cost transparency and promoting data-driven market analysis.
Support Rural and Underserved Communities
Ensuring that less-resourced communities benefit from mergers and acquisition-driven investments and innovations is critical to maintaining patient access. HLC recommends encouraging investment in underserved areas and monitoring and evaluating access and workforce impact.
Modernize the Stark Law & Anti-Kickback Statute to Support Value-Based Care
While recent safe harbor expansions to the Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) permit certain integrated arrangements, regulatory barriers remain and inadvertently thwart collaboration and discourage meaningful value-based care models.
Competition Letters & Comments
HLC comments support strengthening intellectual property provisions of USMACA
HLC response to the Federal Trade Commission’s RFI regarding noncompete agreements
HLC response to the HHS/FTC/DOJ request for information regarding consolidation and the role of private equity in the healthcare sector
Competition News & Updates
“Tariffs would critically harm patients” – HLC Highlights Private Sector Actions to Strengthen Healthcare Supply Chain
The Healthcare Leadership Council (HLC), an association of CEOs and C-suite executives from all sectors of healthcare, responded to the Department of Commerce's request for information (RFI) regarding the initiation of a Section 232 National Securit…
Healthcare Leadership Council Names US Chamber Veteran and Seasoned Healthcare Expert Katie Mahoney to Top Policy Post
HLC Board Chair: Hiring reflects strong and growing momentum at HLCWashington, DC, February 26, 2024 – The Healthcare Leadership Council (HLC), the leading health industry association representing all disciplines of American healthcare, today named …
Analysis: Proposed Change in Medicaid Drug Rebate Program Could Affect Drug Pricing, Access in Other Markets
Avalere Report Finds Proposal to “Stack” Drug Discounts in Calculating Medicaid Best Price Could Lead to Disruption for Patients, Pharmacies, Payers, Manufacturers WASHINGTON – A proposal by the Biden Administration to change how prescription drug r…
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