FTC Approves Final Consent Order in Ascension Health-AmSurg Deal

The Federal Trade Commission finalized a consent order involving Ascension Health Alliance's (Ascension) proposed $3.9 billion acquisition of AmSurg LLC.

The FTC's final consent order requires Ascension to divest seven AmSurg ambulatory surgery centers across Nashville, Tennessee; Panama City, Florida; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Waco, Texas and Wichita, Kansas. Six of the centers will be divested to SC Affiliates, while the seventh center in Panama City will be divested to Florida Gastroenterology Center.

The FTC's final consent order settles allegations that Ascension's acquisition of AmSurg would limit competition for certain outpatient surgical services performed by gastroenterologists, ophthalmologists and orthopedists across the Nashville, Panama City, Tulsa, Waco and Wichita metro areas. Limited competition for these surgical services likely would lead to higher surgery prices for patients, while also threatening to lower the quality of care and limit surgical services innovation, the FTC's complaint alleged.

The final consent order also imposes other conditions, including requiring Ascension to provide the Commission with prior notice for any acquisition of ambulatory surgical centers in the metropolitan areas around the divested surgical centers.

Following a public comment period, the Commission voted 2-0 to approve the final order.