This article from Forbes by Robert Pearl, M.D., addresses the pervasive issue of monopolization within the U.S. healthcare sector, illustrating how hospitals and health systems reduce competition by merging, leading to higher prices, lower service quality, and less convenience for patients. It is pointed out how legal loopholes and lobbying perpetuate this issue despite potential regulatory oversight by entities like the FTC and the DOJ. The piece emphasizes that monopolistic conditions in healthcare not only hinder innovation but also increase financial burdens on patients and local governments, which must shift budget priorities to accommodate rising healthcare costs. This detrimental cycle, Pearl argues, undermines overall public health and economic efficiency.
