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Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved an application submitted by Universal Health Services, Inc.’s (UHS) and Psychiatric Solutions, Inc.’s to sell what are known as the Delaware Assets, including MeadowWood Behavioral Health, to PHC, Inc., which does business as Pioneer Behavioral Health. The companies are required to sell the assets under an FTC order settling charges that UHS’s acquisition of Psychiatric Solutions as originally proposed was anticompetitive.

According to the companies’ application, the sale will satisfy the terms of the FTC decision and order. PHC is a leading provider of inpatient and outpatient behavioral health services headquartered in Peabody, Massachusetts, and UHS believes PHC will operate the Delaware Assets as a strong and effective competitor. Under the terms of the FTC order, UHS must still divest assets in Puerto Rico and Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Commission vote approving the application was 5-0. (FTC File No. 101-0142, Docket No. C-4309; the staff contact is Elizabeth A. Piotrowski, Bureau of Competition, 202-326-2623; 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. Like the FTC on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.