FTC homes in on healthcare
The federal regulatory agency that exists to protect consumers and promote competition across the economy is upping its game in healthcare.
The Federal Trade Commission announced March 20 it will do so by forming a healthcare task force.
The new subgroup’s top priority will be orchestrating enforcement and advocacy on behalf of not only patients and healthcare workers but also taxpayers.
In a memo addressed to five members of FTC leadership, FTC chair Andrew Ferguson cites President Trump’s Feb. 2025 “Making America Healthy Again” executive order as the spur for the launch of the FTC Healthcare Task Force.
While taking his cue from the White House here, Ferguson does not report to the president since the FTC is an independent agency.
“Making America’s healthcare system work better is a no-brainer,” Ferguson tells his team by way of directing the five to form and then lead the task force. “The industry constitutes an extraordinary 18% of our country’s GDP, yet too many Americans struggle to get the care they need at prices they can afford.”
The five head up FTC’s bureaus of competition (Daniel Guarnera), consumer protection (Christopher Mufarrige), economics (Ted Rosenbaum) and policy planning (Brendan Chestnut) as well as the agency’s acting chief technology officer (Ian Mason).
To this group Ferguson delegates four key action items:
- Lead targeted enforcement and advocacy initiatives focused on key priorities within the healthcare space;
- Devise coordinated agencywide strategies on investigations;
- Take a proactive and strategic approach to identifying amicus and statement of interest opportunities; and
- Identify emerging issues and new priority areas for enforcement and advocacy.
Ferguson adds that the FTC Healthcare Task Force will recruit members from outside its own bailiwick, including personnel from HHS and the Department of Justice as well as other agencies and law enforcement partners.
“We must remain vigilant in policing unlawful business practices in the healthcare space,” Ferguson writes in the March 20 memo. “Luckily, the FTC has a dual mandate to protect the American people from unfair or deceptive practices and unfair methods of competition. And given the breadth and significance of the healthcare industry, the FTC’s relevant healthcare expertise and ongoing work extend throughout all our Bureaus and Offices.”
Dave P. has worked in journalism, marketing and public relations for more than 30 years, frequently concentrating on hospitals, healthcare technology and Catholic communications. He has also specialized in fundraising communications, ghostwriting for CEOs of local, national and global charities, nonprofits and foundations.