by Karl Denninger
Market-Ticker.org
One way hospitals have been able to drum up more cash: raising prices on private insurance plans. And one way hospital systems strengthen their ability to do that is by getting bigger.
Analysts say that’s one of the factors driving all the mergers and consolidation across U.S. hospitals. By gaining market share, they can raise their prices.
Mergers and consolidation for the purpose of gaining market share and raising prices is and has been a felony for more than 100 years.
Remember that T-Mobile and Sprint were sued by multiple states claiming exactly this — that they would lessen competition and raise prices. The deal was reviewed and the judge convinced otherwise.