FTC: 'Potential harm to patients' if Ballad COPA regulations repealed

FTC urges Tennessee to preserve Ballad Health’s COPA

Lawmakers are considering bills that would unwind the state’s oversight over Ballad, a large state-sanctioned hospital monopoly. The FTC argues that’s a bad idea.

FTC warns of ‘risks to patients’ if Ballad COPA is terminated as legislators weigh options

In a letter, the Federal Trade Commission warns the Tennessee General Assembly of 'risks to patients' if Ballad COPA is terminated.

FTC: 'Potential harm to patients' if Ballad COPA regulations repealed

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WJHL) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has "warned of the potential anticompetitive consequences to patients” if Tennessee's legislature removes the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) regulatory oversight of Ballad Health's inpatient hospital monopoly. Wednesday’s six-page letter, signed by the FTC’s directors of policy planning, economics and competition, came in response to a [...]

FTC prescribes careful voting on COPA bill in Tennessee legislature

The Federal Trade Commission is cautioning the Tennessee General Assembly to allocate more time for a proposed end to a certificate of public advantage that could bring more healthcare competition to Northeast Tennessee. The agency says the quality of care could suffer and consumer prices could increase without the state supervision the agreement gives to Ballad Health—part of the original 2018 plan with the Mountain States Health merger. The FT…