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Health Consolidation a Concern
Last week, the House Ways and Means Committee held a hearing on consolidation in the health care industry, and committee Republicans and Democrats alike expressed concern about the growing impact health care mergers and acquisitions can have on driving up medical prices.
The hearing focused on how consolidations, particularly in the provider sector, are impacting the cost of private health insurance, Medicare spending, and beneficiary costs.
Friday’s hearing was fact-finding in nature, but Representative Wally Herger (R-CA), chair of the panel’s health subcommittee, did not rule out futher action by the committee on this issue. Generally during the hearing, GOP representatives shared the view that PPACA and other market forces have led to an excessive amount of consolidation in the health care industry over the past few years, resulting in a negative competitive impact.
Democrats on the committee also expressed some concern, but some pointed out that mergers and acquisitions have resulted in increased efficiency in certain parts of the country.
