Aetna, Anthem, and three other health insurance companies received Federal Trade Commission (FTC) orders to hand over data regarding patient billing, employee wage data, and other information to assist in the commission’s study of hospital mergers.
The orders were first requested October 17 and made public October 21, according to an FTC press release.
The five health insurance companies receiving orders from the FTC are: 1) Aetna, 2) Anthem, 3) BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, 4) Cigna Corporation, and 5) United Healthcare. These orders seek patient-level commercial claims data. The two health systems receiving orders from the FTC are: 1) Ballad Health and 2) Cabell Huntington Hospital. These orders seek aggregated patient billing and discharge data; health system employee wage data; and other information relevant for analyzing the health systems’ prices, quality, access, and innovation.
In June 2019, the FTC held a public workshop to present empirical research on the price effects of three COPAs approved in the 1990s and to hear from numerous stakeholders about their experiences with COPAs. Workshop testimony and public comments informed the current study design.
The FTC intends to collect information over the next several years that will help FTC staff to conduct retrospective analyses of the Ballad Health and Cabell COPAs. Once the study is complete, the FTC intends to report publicly the study’s findings in a manner that is consistent with the FTC’s confidentiality rules. This project will enhance the agency’s knowledge of COPAs and inform future advocacy and enforcement. It will also serve as a resource for state governments and stakeholders who may be considering using COPAs.
Full Content: FTC
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