Markets Wired

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved an application from Community Health Systems to sell Riverview Regional Medical Center and its associated assets near Gadsden, Alabama.

The divestiture was required under the FTC’s April 2014 final order settling charges that CHS’s acquisition of rival health system Health Management Associates, Inc. was likely to reduce competition for general acute care inpatient services sold to commercial health plans and provided to commercially insured patients in the Gadsden market, and in an additional market subject to a separate divestiture.

The Commission vote to approve the divestiture was 5-0. (FTC File No. 131 0202, the staff contact is Daniel P. Ducore, Bureau of Competition, 202-326-2526)

The FTC’s Bureau of Competition works with the Bureau of Economics to investigate alleged anticompetitive business practices and, when appropriate, recommends that the Commission take law enforcement action. To inform the Bureau about particular business practices, call 202-326-3300, send an e-mail to antitrust{at}ftc{dot}gov, or write to the Office of Policy and Coordination, Bureau of Competition, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Room CC-5422, Washington, DC 20580. To learn more about the Bureau of Competition, read Competition Counts. Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.