Renal care companies settle with FTC

Two renal care companies have settled with the Federal Trade Commission on charges that they'd be teamed up to eliminate competition in Rhode Island and southeast Massachusetts.  According to the FTC, Fresenius Medical Care and American Renal Associates conducted a transaction in which ARA would pay $1.6 million for Fresenius to close three clinics, while paying an addition $2.8 million to acquire the remaining five Fresenius clinics based in Rhode Island. The FTC has called this "a naked agreement to eliminate competition."

Under the terms of the consent order settling the case, both companies would be barred from divvying up territory or customers with other clinic operators. Also, ARA will have to let the FTC know if it plans to buy any clinics in the areas of Warwick, R.I. and Cranston.

To learn more about the agreement:
- read this Modern Healthcare item

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