Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation; Proposed Consent Agreement With Analysis To Aid Public Comment

Résumé

In settlement of alleged violations of federal law prohibiting unfair acts and practices and unfair methods of competition, this consent agreement, accepted subject to final Commission approval, would permit, among other things, the hospital company to complete its acquisition of Medical Care America, but would require it to divest the Alaska Surgery Center within twelve months to a Commission-approved entity. If the transaction is not completed in the designated time frame, the respondents would be required to permit the Commission to appoint a trustee. In addition, the consent agreement would require the respondent, for ten years, to obtain Commission approval before acquiring an interest worth more than $1 million in any outpatient surgical services facility in Anchorage, Alaska, and before selling such an interest to any entity that operates an outpatient surgical services facility in Anchorage, Alaska.