Agency Focuses on Practices That Could Increase Costs, Reduce Quality of Service The Federal Trade Commission testified today before Congress on how it protects and promotes competition in the health care industry to help make sure U.S. consumers get high-quality care at competitive prices. Continuing effective antitrust enforcement is a critical part of any plan to improve the health care system, according to the testimony. The testimony also describes the FTC’s efforts, along with other agencies, to provide guidance on how health care professionals can form collaborations envisioned under the Affordable Care Act consistent with the antitrust laws. Before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Courts and Competition Policy, the FTC’s Bureau of Competition Director Richard Feinstein said antitrust enforcement improves health care by preventing or stopping anticompetitive agreements to raise prices, and fostering competition that spurs innovation, improves quality, and...