Markets Wired

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved an application by Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) to sell its Las Vegas, Nevada, psychiatric facilities, including Montevista Hospital and Red Rock Behavioral Health Hospital, to Strategic Behavioral Health, LLC. UHS is required to sell the assets under an FTC order settling charges that its 2010 acquisition of Psychiatric Solutions, Inc. as originally proposed was anticompetitive.

UHS already has received FTC approval to sell a psychiatric facility in Delaware and must still sell a psychiatric facility in Puerto Rico, under the Commission’s final order. UHS has filed with the FTC an application for approval of a proposed sale of the Puerto Rico facility. The Commission vote approving the sale of the Las Vegas psychiatric facilities was 4-0. At the same time, the Commission denied UHS’s request to extend the time it has to sell the Las Vegas facilities. The FTC’s letter denying that request is available here. (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.)

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@ftc.gov, or write to the Office of Policy and Coordination, Bureau of Competition, Federal Trade Commission, 601 New Jersey Ave., Room 7117, Washington, DC 20580. To learn more about the Bureau of Competition, read Competition Counts. Like the FTC on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

(FYI 49.2011.wpd)