The Federal Trade Commission, Justice Department and Health and Human Services Department have created an online portal for the general public to report potentially anticompetitve practices in the healthcare sector.
The portal, HealthyCompetition.gov, is the latest effort from government agencies and the Biden administration to bolster competition in healthcare markets with the hope of lowering care and perscription drug costs, according to an FTC news release Thursday.
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Complaints will be reviewed by the FTC and the Justice Department's Antitrust Division and may lead to further action.
The portal lists examples of the types of healthcare business practices that can hinder competition, including consolidation, joint ventures and roll-ups; limiting choice and fair wages for employees; collusion or price fixing among competitors; contract language; use of data; and unncessary provider recertification or accreditation requirements.
"Competition in healthcare is crucial to ensuring fair and competitive wages across the healthcare sector and affordable and quality healthcare for all Americans," said Jonathan Kanter, assistant attorney general of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. "Today’s launch of HealthyCompetition.gov -- a one-stop shop to report potential violations of our competition laws to the Justice Department and FTC -- will allow the agencies to collaborate early and often, helping to promote economic opportunity and fairness for all."
