The Tennessee Department of Health has held its last public hearing on the proposed merger of Mountain States Health Alliance and Wellmont Health System, with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) continuing to oppose the deal.
The two systems have argued laws in Tennessee and Virginia shield them from FTC’s attempt to block the merger, meaning the deal could move forward if both states approve of it by deadlines in September.
“We believe under the situation we’re pursuing, a certificate of public advantage under state action immunity, that there is clear rationale to move forward with this merger with active state supervision and that federal law certainly allows for that,” said Todd Norris, Wellmont’s senior vice president for system advancement, according to Bristol Herald Courier. “We understand their position but believe the state action immunity laws will ultimately allow this to happen.”
An earlier FTC report argued the systems don’t have a justification for the merger and the consolidation would give the new system control of 71 percent of the geographic area which they both currently serve.
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John joined TriMed in 2016, focusing on healthcare policy and regulation. After graduating from Columbia College Chicago, he worked at FM News Chicago and Rivet News Radio, and worked on the state government and politics beat for the Illinois Radio Network. Outside of work, you may find him adding to his never-ending graphic novel collection.