Harris’ California Health Care Battles Signal Fights Ahead for Hospitals if She Wins

As California’s top prosecutor, Kamala Harris voiced concerns about mergers among hospitals, physicians groups, and health insurers’ potential to stifle competition and increase patients’ prices. If she becomes president, she could influence the Federal Trade Commission to enforce antitrust laws and possibly even slow healthcare industry consolidation, which many experts say leads to higher costs and could negatively impact care quality. However, unwinding past consolidation might be challenging.