ARTICLE · 09 NOVEMBER 2026
Antitrust & Competition Healthcare Quarterly Update Q3 2026
Federal and state antitrust enforcers intensified their scrutiny of healthcare transactions in Q3 2026, with the DOJ introducing a fast-track merger review process while the FTC imposed record penalties for HSR Act violations and issued new warnings on patient price transparency. State regulators expanded transaction notification requirements targeting private equity healthcare deals, particularly in Illinois and California, signaling a more rigorous regulatory environment for healthcare industry
United StatesAntitrust/Competition Law
Healthcare remained a focus for federal and state antitrust enforcers in the third quarter of 2026. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) (together, the “agencies”) were less active in bringing enforcement actions, but several developments are noteworthy for healthcare industry participants, including the DOJ’s return to a formal fast track for in-depth merger investigations, a record penalty for structuring a deal to avoid federal merger filing rules, new FTC warnings on patient price disclosures and distressed hospital sales, and new state healthcare transaction notification requirements for private equity deals.
I. Federal Merger Review
The DOJ Resumes a Formal Fast-Track for Second Request Investigations
We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
View source
