Federal Probes Need to Look Beyond Private Equity-Owned Healthcare for Alleged Abuse [Video]

At least three federal agencies have jointly announced a cross-government investigation into the growing role of private equity (PE) and other corporate firms in American healthcare.

In this video, healthcare marketing consultant Ron Harman King, JD, MS, argues that the trio of investigating agencies — the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Department of Justice, and the Department of Health and Human Services — should not stop at looking only into PE-owned health facilities and practices.

Following is a transcript of his remarks:

It should be taken as no small sign of the changing times that no less than three federal agencies have jointly announced a cross-government investigation into the growing role of private equity and other corporate firms in American healthcare.

A Federal Trade Commission press release recently announced the inquiry and asserted that private equity and corporate takeovers of healthcare, quote, “may lead to a maximizing of profits at the expense of quality care,” end quote.

According to one study, private-equity-backed roll ups in healthcare increased …