Khan's FTC bans non-compete agreements, hospital CEOs' panties in huge twist

In “Do Not Resuscitate (This System”) #345 for the week ending April 26, 2024, I bring some unusual good news coming from the Federal Trade Commission where head Lina Khan prohibited non-compete agreements that keep workers in indentured servitude because they're banned from getting new jobs elsewhere. It's particularly important for doctors and other providers who have been turned into serfs by private equity and hospitals. (An incredible 45% of family doctors already toil under this insane straitjacket.) Khan on also trying to slow down the ongoing creation of hospital monopolies and making some progress, even attracting support from her GOP enemies in some cases. There's lots more in this episode--all the articles mentioned are linked below. And you can get my written digest straight to your inbox by writing me at tfrasca@yahoo.com as well as the full archive going back 6 years at nypan.org/single-payer-news

Matt Stoller, “FTC enrages corporate America by eliminating non-compete agreements,” BIG, Apr 24, 2024 https://bit.ly/44jj8ii

Julie Rovner & David Hilzenrath, “FTC chief says tech advancements risk health care price fixing,” KFF Health News, Apr 23, 2024 https://bit.ly/3UAWezQ  

Mike Scarcella, “North Carolina backs FTC bid against $320 million health system deal, Reuters, Apr 16, 2024 https://reut.rs/4d5uWJ3

Noah Weiland, “5 Takeaways from a year of Medicaid upheaval,” New York Times, Apr 16,

Tina Reed, “Lawmakers target mergers in first hearing on Change Healthcare hack,” Axios, Apr 17, 2024 https://bit.ly/3WenYeG

Samantha Liss, “Medical providers still grappling with UnitedHealth cyberattack: ‘More devastating than Covid,’” KFF Health News, Apr 19, 2024 https://bit.ly/3UeNzBr

Julie Appleby, “Lawsuit alleges Obamacare plan-switching scheme targeted low-income consumers,” KFF Health News, Apr 16, 2024 https://bit.ly/3QfAIxT

Mohana Ravindranath, “These tech startups are betting on hospital price transparency rules,” STAT, April 17, 2024 https://bit.ly/3w6HzTr

Bruce Jaspen, “Elevance Health and private equity firm to invest in primary care,” Forbes, Apr 16, 2024 https://bit.ly/3U6UT28 and Lis Schencker, “Walgreens embarks on another

Kate Wells, “He thinks his wife died in an understaffed hospital. Now he’s trying to change the industry,” KFF Health News/Michigan Public/NPR, Apr 19, 2024 https://bit.ly/44hhnSU

Dahlia Lithwick, “The absurd case about whether doctors can let you bleed out in the ER is

Kathleen Blackburn, “We regulate a tiny fraction of the 12,000 ‘forever chemicals.’ There’s a better way,” New York Times, Apr 21, 2024 https://nyti.ms/4aMuPAD

Quinn Coffman, “Missouri House gives initial OK to bill protecting pesticide-makers,” Columbia Missourian/St. Louis Public Radio, Apr 19, 2024 https://bit.ly/3xN70d3