Missouri Hospital Merger Raises Concerns Over Rising Costs and Reduced Competition

BJC HealthCare plans to merge with Saint Luke's Health System, uniting over 28 hospitals across Missouri. Cross-market hospital mergers can increase costs for patients.

Federal regulators have not stepped in to prevent hospitals from merging with systems in other markets within a state. States are left to handle these complex mergers.

California challenged a cross-market hospital merger, imposing price caps. Michigan did not intervene in a similar merger.

It's hard to prove how cross-market mergers reduce competition if hospitals don't operate in one market.

Missouri's attorney general is reviewing the BJC-Saint Luke's merger. The hospitals haven't explained how the merger will lower costs and improve quality.