Over recent decades, researchers have examined how health care market consolidation affects prices, with both vertical and horizontal integration generally associated with higher prices. Evidence on quality impacts is more mixed. Some providers maintain that consolidation can improve access to care and may be essential for some rural providers to remain financially viable. States have responded to these evolving market dynamics with a wide range of policy measures. In 2025, at least 42 bills across 21 states and Washington, D.C., were enacted to address health care market consolidation and competition.
Read the full article: From Mergers to Market Power: 2025 Legislative Recap on Health Care Consolidation //
Source: https://www.ncsl.org/health/from-mergers-to-market-power-2025-legislative-recap-on-health-care-consolidation