Media
The MATCH Coalition is committed to the protection of consumers from anti-competitive practices in the healthcare industry that would increase healthcare costs for all Americans and violate federal and state antitrust laws. View our membership roster.
For media inquiries, please contact kporter@gloverparkgroup.com.
Press Releases:
Background on Antitrust Laws:
The prime objective of our nation’s antitrust laws is to promote consumer welfare by preserving and promoting competition. First enacted 100 years ago, the federal antitrust laws are based on sound economic principles. Increased competition is good for consumers because it results in more products and services produced at lower prices and better quality.
The federal antitrust laws include the Sherman Act, the Clayton Act and the Federal Trade Commission Act. These laws prohibit price fixing, boycotts and similar agreements among competitors that produce anti-competitive effects. They also prohibit mergers, acquisitions or joint ventures that would lessen competition or create monopolies. The Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) are responsible for enforcing the federal antitrust laws. These agencies work closely with state attorneys general in their efforts to enforce state antitrust laws.
Existing federal and state antitrust laws permit healthcare providers to communicate with health plans, the public and other healthcare providers about quality of care and other patient care issues. They also allow the development of integrated delivery systems to provide consumers with choice, quality and cost-effective healthcare. Weakening the antitrust laws would deny consumers choice, quality and affordability.
About the Legislation:
H.R. 1204 would exempt certain independent pharmacies from 100-year-old federal and state antitrust laws, and essentially treat these independent pharmacies as if they were employees participating in collective bargaining under Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act. This would allow them to engage in collusion, boycotts and price fixing all in the name of extracting higher prices without a promise of increased consumer or economic quality.
The current action by independent pharmacies is similar to previous attempts by healthcare providers to seek an exemption to the antitrust law that would have applied to all healthcare providers. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) opposed those attempts on the grounds that enactment would significantly increase direct spending on pharmaceuticals both by private payers and under a variety of government programs. While sympathetic to the difficulties faced by some independent pharmacies, the FTC has been clear that an erosion of antitrust laws threatens to raise prices for consumers - particularly seniors-for vital prescription medications.
For more information, please visit the Resources area of our site