We present empirical analyses of the effects of two hospital mergers - both occurring in the northern suburbs of Chicago in 2000 - on the pre- and post-merger prices negotiated with commercial health insurers. Using difference-in-differences methodology and data on actual transaction prices,...

In April 2002, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced the Hospital Merger Retrospective Project to study consummated hospital mergers. This project was precipitated by a long string of unsuccessful hospital merger challenges by the FTC, the US Department of Justice, and the state of...