The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has finalized a consent order involving Ascension’s proposed $3.9 billion acquisition of AMSURG.
The FTC’s final consent order requires Ascension to divest seven AMSURG ASCs across Nashville, Tenn.; Panama City, Fla.; Tulsa, Okla.; Waco, Texas and Wichita, Kan. Six of the centers will be divested to SCA Health subsidiary SC Affiliates, while the seventh center in Panama City will be divested to Florida Gastroenterology Center.
The FTC says its order settles allegations that Ascension’s acquisition of AMSURG would “limit competition for certain outpatient surgical services performed by gastroenterologists, ophthalmologists and orthopedists across the Nashville, Panama City, Tulsa, Waco and Wichita metro areas,” which “likely would lead to higher surgery prices for patients, while also threatening to lower the quality of care and limit surgical services innovation.”
The final consent order also requires Ascension to provide the FTC with prior notice for any acquisition of ASCs in the metropolitan areas around the ones it divested.
Following a public comment period, the Commission voted 2-0 to approve the final order.
