Report Questions Whether Hospital Clout Affects Costs

This week, the American Hospital Association released a report by the consulting firm Compass Lexecon that casts doubt on whether hospital consolidation is causing an increase in health care costs. The report also questions the findings from an April 2010 Health Affairs study that linked hospital market power to rising prices in California.

• "Hospital Industry Makes Case for Lifting of Antitrust Restrictions" (Pecquet, "Healthwatch," The Hill, 10/5).