Washington, D.C. — The American Economic Liberties Project released the following statement in response to Intermountain Healthcare and Sanford Healthcare’s announcement that they intend to merge.

“Hospital mergers almost always result in higher costs for patients — sometimes by more than 20%. Despite their claims, there’s no reason to believe a merger between Intermountain Healthcare and Sanford Healthcare would be any different,” said Olivia Webb, Policy Analyst at the American Economic Liberties Project. “If approved, Intermountain and Sanford’s healthcare system would control 70 hospitals across much of the Upper Midwest and Mountain states, a massive insurance plan, and an estimated $15 billion in annual revenue. The relevant state Attorneys General and the FTC should investigate and reject this merger.”

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Economic Liberties works to ensure America’s system of commerce is structured to advance, rather than undermine, economic liberty, fair commerce, and a secure, inclusive democracy. AELP believes true economic liberty means entrepreneurs and businesses large and small succeed on the merits of their ideas and hard work; commerce empowers consumers, workers, farmers, and engineers instead of subjecting them to discrimination and abuse from financiers and monopolists; foreign trade arrangements support domestic security and democracy; and wealth is broadly distributed to support equitable political power.