At one time, it wasn’t clear whether antitrust laws applied to the healthcare industry. Today, antitrust laws play a significant role in how healthcare entities are structured. The Sherman Act, the Clayton Act, and the Federal Trade Commission Act are key federal antitrust laws that impact the healthcare industry. The US Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission enforce these laws. States also have and enforce their own antitrust laws.

There’s a common saying that antitrust laws...