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New Developments Affecting Hospital Merger Enforcement

Published

28 September 2026

Topic

regulatory

◆ Sectors

Healthtech Infrastructure

◆ Geography

United States

◆ Source

Read at honigman.com →

◆ Verified

Fusion42 · 28 September 2026 · Fusion42 review

The FTC is intensifying scrutiny on hospital merger failing firm defenses by requiring comprehensive buyer searches for less anticompetitive options. Additionally, CMS's phase-out of the inpatient-only list may broaden hospital merger market definitions to include outpatient services, affecting antitrust assessments.

This Wire brief sits within Fusion42's coverage of Healthtech Infrastructure.

◆ ◆ The Wire takeaway

You must widen your search for hospital merger partners and document all efforts thoroughly to meet FTC standards. CMS changes mean outpatient services could reshape how competition is measured in healthcare mergers, so adjust your antitrust strategy now.

◆ Coverage

1 source · 28 Sep 2026

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◆ Topics

Healthtech Infrastructureftc-enforcementhospital-mergersantitrustcms-policyhealthcare-regulation