Feds hit Illinois law that regulates the building, expansion of hospitals

An Illinois law designed to regulate hospital building and other health facility expansions undercuts consumer choice and weakens "markets' ability to contain healthcare costs," the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission said in a statement. In the joint statement to an Illinois task force evaluating the merits of the state's so-called certificate-of-need law, the federal antitrust agencies weighed in with their opinions in advance of a hearing. In Illinois, the regulations are carried out by the Health Facilities Planning Board, but state lawmakers are evaluating whether the board and its rules are necessary.