Markets Wired

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission approved a final modified order settling charges that Universal Health Services, Inc.’s (UHS) proposed acquisition of Psychiatric Solutions, Inc. was anticompetitive and would have substantially reduced competition in the provision of acute inpatient psychiatric services in three local markets: Delaware, Puerto Rico, and metropolitan Las Vegas, Nevada.

The original settlement order required UHS to sell 15 psychiatric facilities as a condition of the $3.1 billion acquisition of Psychiatric Solutions. The FTC has modified the order slightly before making it final, however, to remove certain unnecessary notice and confidentiality obligations on the parties. It also has approved a related hold separate trustee agreement between UHS and Hold Separate Trustee Robert H. Osburn. Public comments on the original FTC order can be found here.

The Commission vote approving the modified final order and hold separate agreement was 5-0. It can be found on the FTC’s website and as a link to this press release. (FTC File No. 101-0142, Docket No. C-4308; the staff contact is Jeffrey H. Perry, Bureau of Competition, 202-326-2331; see press release dated November 15, 2010.)

Copies of the document mentioned in this release are available from the FTC’s website at http://www.ftc.gov and from the FTC’s Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580. Call toll-free: 1-877-FTC-HELP.

(FYI 20.2011.wpd)