Doctors, hospitals to get antitrust advice from U.S.

The U.S. Justice Department said it will ease the transition under the new federal health-care law for doctors and hospitals by helping them avoid antitrust violations when they form professional organizations.

The department will provide an “expedited” review of proposed accountable care organizations, or ACOs, under the new law, Sharis Pozen, chief of staff of the department’s antitrust division, told a House judiciary subcommittee in Washington today.

“The department intends to offer whatever guidance and clarity may be needed to ensure that providers pursue beneficial integrated ACOs without running afoul of the antitrust laws,” she said.