Antitrust Policy in Health Care Markets

Description

Health care costs in the United States are much higher than in other countries. These cost differences can be explained in part by a lack of competition in the United States. Some markets, such as pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, have elements of monopoly. Other markets, such as health insurance, have elements of monopsony. Many other markets may be subject to collusion on prices, such as generic drugs, or wages, such as the nurse labor market. Lawful monopoly and monopsony are beyond the reach of antitrust laws, but collusion is not. When appropriate, vigorous antitrust enforcement challenging anticompetitive conduct can aid in reducing health care costs. This book addresses monopoly, monopsony, cartels of sellers and buyers, horizontal and vertical merger policy, and antitrust enforcement through private suits as well as the efforts of the antitrust Agencies. The authors demonstrate how enforcing antitrust laws can ultimately promote competition and reduce health care costs.

Roger D. Blair is Professor of Economics at the University of Florida. Christine Piette Durrance is Associate Professor in the La Follette School of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Tirza Angerhofer is Doctoral Fellow of Economics at Duke University.

'This is the best executed examination of the role of competition policy in health care markets in its field. It addresses everything from patent abuses and pay-for-delay settlements, to price fixing, licensing, group purchasing, labor relations, mergers, and vertical integration. The authors are highly respected academics and practitioners in the discipline. This book is a must read for everyone interested in antitrust law and competition in health care markets.' Herbert Hovenkamp, University of Pennsylvania 'This book situates contemporary antitrust health care debates with an important combination of economics, law, and policy considerations.' Daniel Sokol, USC Marshall School of Business