Washington, D.C. — In response to news that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) — working closely with the California Attorney General’s office — has sued to block John Muir Health’s proposed $142.5 million acquisition of San Ramon Regional Medical Center, LLC, the American Economic Liberties Project released the following statement.

“We’re thrilled to see the FTC and Attorney General Bonta take a strong stance against further hospital consolidation in California at a time when healthcare costs are already out of control,” said Sara Sirota, Policy Analyst at the American Economic Liberties Project. “This proposed deal would give John Muir majority ownership of the local market for inpatient services, allowing it to jack up prices for patients already struggling to afford the medical care they need. As we’ve seen time and time again, unchecked hospital consolidation has not only led to higher prices for patients, but poorer quality of care and worse conditions for healthcare workers too. The FTC and CA AG’s office are absolutely right to take action against this merger in order to protect working families in California.”

Learn more about the harms of hospital consolidation in our policy brief.

Learn more about how state lawmakers can take on consolidation in healthcare in our latest policy toolkit. 

Learn more about Economic Liberties here.

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The American Economic Liberties Project works to ensure America’s system of commerce is structured to advance, rather than undermine, economic liberty, fair commerce, and a secure, inclusive democracy. Economic Liberties 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.