Along with the Sherman Act, two other acts were passed. In 1914, the Clayton Act was passed to help protect consumers from merging companies who were apt to work together in pricing, and the Federal Trade Commision Act created a new federal agency that regulates, enforces and investigates to assure there is no unfair competition and to punish those that do so (“Federal Trade Commission”). Not only do these Antitrust laws apply in the regular market economy selling goods, but has become big in healthcare as well. Since the acts were implemented, multiple court cases involving insurance companies, hospitals, and other services related to health care have tried merging with other companies and in result creating anti competitive behaviour. With hospitals merging and deciding to work together to create a more valuable health care system for patients, it can be difficult for these organizations to do so without violating antitrust laws. Although this can be avoided by following rules and guidelines, organizations may not bother or try to surpass them and get in trouble for violating these laws. Although these unfair mergers and competitions still exist, it has become less frequent over the years with the amount of regulation by the Federal Trade Commission and Antitrust Division of the Justice
Along with the Sherman Act, two other acts were passed. In 1914, the Clayton Act was passed to help protect consumers from merging companies who were apt to work together in pricing, and the Federal Trade Commision Act created a new federal agency that regulates, enforces and investigates to assure there is no unfair competition and to punish those that do so (“Federal Trade Commission”). Not only do these Antitrust laws apply in the regular market economy selling goods, but has become big in healthcare as well. Since the acts were implemented, multiple court cases involving insurance companies, hospitals, and other services related to health care have tried merging with other companies and in result creating anti competitive behaviour. With hospitals merging and deciding to work together to create a more valuable health care system for patients, it can be difficult for these organizations to do so without violating antitrust laws. Although this can be avoided by following rules and guidelines, organizations may not bother or try to surpass them and get in trouble for violating these laws. Although these unfair mergers and competitions still exist, it has become less frequent over the years with the amount of regulation by the Federal Trade Commission and Antitrust Division of the Justice