AHA tells Congress that stricter merger laws may cause economic harm
The group contended that any concerns with antitrust enforcement should be addressed by providing additional resources to enforcement agencies.
October 7, 2021 / Jeff Lagasse, Associate Editor
Congress has been mulling changes to antitrust enforcement in the U.S., but the American Hospital Association is wary of any changes to the existing legal and regulatory framework for evaluating mergers and acquisitions, telling lawmakers in a letter this week that the current framework has benefited the American economy.
“For the past forty years, this bipartisan framework has enabled rigorous competition, particularly in comparison to other parts of the world, while providing the government with the legal tools necessary to challenge transactions that could harm consumers,” the AHA wrote.
The group contended that any current concerns with antitrust enforcement should be addressed by providing additional resources to enforcement agencies, and that the merger review process should remain impartial, “guided by the best interests of consumers and innovation.”
The letter was also signed by a number of different agencies, including the Medical Device Manufacturers Association, National Venture Capital Association, Consumer Technology Association, Center for American Entrepreneurship and the California Chamber of Commerce.
WHAT’S THE IMPACT
According to the AHA, the government already has the power to review and challenge the few mergers and acquisitions that raise anti-competitive concerns. It utilizes antitrust agencies that are able to block transactions when needed, and the government is almost always on the winning side.
