Blood tests measuring PFAS can help doctors manage risks for patients who have been significantly exposed to the chemicals but the tests cost up to $600, and insurance generally doesn’t cover them.
Thursday, February 11, 2021
Marisa E. Poncia
Despite initial obstacles because of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 rounded out to be the busiest year for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) enforcement in the United States in nearly two decades. In the fourth quarter, US agencies challenged five transactions. November 2020 saw the most premerger filings in any month since 2001. Mergers and filings in the United States are predicted to remain at high levels into the new year in light of the current economic climate. The antitrust agencies have continued to maintain that their evaluation and investigation of anticompetitive harm will remain rigorous despite the uncertain times.
1. FTC approves Otto Bock HealthCare North America, Inc.’s application to divest assets in prosthetic knee merger.
On Dec. 1, 2020, the FTC announced its approval of an application by prosthetics manufacturer Otto Bock HealthCare North America Inc. to divest certain assets it acquired when it consummated its acquisition of FIH Group Holdings LLC (Freedom Innovations), including all microprocessor prosthetic knee (MPK) products and technology.
Otto Bock completed its acquisition of Freedom Innovations in September 2017, and FTC filed an administrative complaint in December of that year. In November 2019, upholding an administrative law judge’s decision, the FTC unanimously found that the merger was anticompetitive, and it issued the final order requiring Otto Bock to divest the Freedom Innovations business, with limited exceptions. The Commission vote to approve the application was 5-0.
Imperial Valley News Imperial Valley News Center Justice Department Requires Divestiture of Tufts Health Freedom Plan in Order for Harvard Pilgrim and Health Plan Holdings to Proceed With Merger Details Written by IVN
Washington, DC - The Department of Justice announced today that it would require Harvard Pilgrim Health Care (Harvard Pilgrim) and Health Plan Holdings (fka Tufts Health Plan) to divest Tufts Health Freedom Plan Inc. (Tufts Freedom), in order to proceed with their merger. Tufts Freedom is Health Plan Holdings’ commercial health insurance business in New Hampshire.
The department has approved UnitedHealth Group Inc. (United), as the buyer. Health insurance is an integral part of the American healthcare system, and the proposed settlement will maintain competition for the sale of commercial health insurance to private employers in New Hampshire with fewer than 100 employees.
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December 15, 2020
The United States and New Hampshire have filed a civil antitrust action in the District of New Hampshire to halt the proposed merger of two commercial health insurance sellers, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Inc. and Health Plan Holdings, Inc. Monday’s filing alleges that consolidation will likely harm New Hampshire commercial group health insurance purchasers by raising prices, decreasing quality, and reducing healthcare choices.
According to the filing, Harvard Pilgrim has over one million members who subscribe to its commercial group health insurance. Its customers are reportedly small and large employer groups in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Maine.