State Attorneys General Use all of the Tools in Their Toolkits to Protect the Public in Healthcare Markets

By Tracy W. Wertz & Abigail U. Wood

Healthcare markets operate very differently than other markets and state attorneys general are uniquely situated to monitor and enforce antitrust laws in these local markets. Since healthcare markets are unlike other markets, state attorneys general think outside the box and use their unique tools to protect the public. State attorneys general bring cases both on their own and also in coordination with federal antitrust authorities asserting claims under state and federal antitrust law. This article discusses recent actions by state attorneys general in healthcare markets and how they use all of the tools in their toolkits to tackle complex issues of concentration and competition.