THE COSTS OF MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS IN THE US HEALTH-CARE SECTOR

Important trends are emerging from evidence of health care industry co ncentration in the United States. Some of these are the durable consum er concerns-cost, choice, and access-which have received attention thr oughout the introduction of managed care. But with the intensified ind ustry concentration, these have been joined by concerns about pricing power, control and quality, integrity of the health system and health policy-making, and clashing institutional mandates. Such trends are pa rticularly evident in the hospital and pharmaceutical industries.