Harbin, Atrium merger under FTC review

JBailey@CalhounTimes.com

As 2023 comes to a close, merger plans between Atrium Health Floyd and the Harbin Clinic remain on hold pending a Federal Trade Commission review.

The proposal, which had undergone an initial review by the federal agency, appeared to be close to fruition until October when the FTC stepped in to take a closer look at the proposal.

Whenever two healthcare companies report a proposed deal, the FTC or Department of Justice will do a preliminary review to determine whether it raises any antitrust concerns that warrant closer examination.

If the initial review raises a concern regarding competition, the agency can opt to take a closer look at how the merger will affect competitive practices in the area.

Both Atrium and Harbin have stated that they remain committed to the merger plans.

“We, and Atrium, will continue to work cooperatively and productively with the FTC to provide this information, as we remain confident about the benefits of the transaction with the clinic, its physicians and our community,” Harbin CEO Kenna Stock wrote in an internal email obtained by the Rome News-Tribune to Harbin employees in October. “This, however, will take additional time. We recognize this is a tremendous disappointment to all of you as it is to the clinic’s leadership.”

Regardless, a second request by the FTC is more involved that the first review. Once that process is completed the agency has three options: Close the investigation — at which point the deal is allowed to move forward — or enter into a settlement with the companies, or take legal action to block the deal in U.S. District Court or through the agency’s administrative process.

REVIEW,

The FTC doesn’t comment on specific reviews, a spokesperson for the agency told the Rome News-Tribune.

Whatever the process, it will likely delay the deal between Atrium and Harbin for months, if not years.

Since the merger plans were announced, several now former Harbin doctors have split off and either entered employment with Advent Health Redmond or gone out on their own. Advent opened cardiology and neurosurgery clinics in 2023.

Since the FTC stepped in for a second review, Atrium announced that it acquired the Northwest Georgia Medical Clinic.

Atrium and the clinic finalized an agreement in late November to combine, bringing Northwest Georgia Medical Clinic under the Atrium Health care delivery brand. 1081 Belwood Road, Suite 3 Inspection date: Jan. 3 Score: 94

Last Score: 90

Prior Score: 93 Inspector’s notes:

♦ Observed tomato slicer stored as clean with food residue, not cleaned to sight and touch.

♦ Observed drink nozzles at dine-in station with encrusted material, not cleaned to sight and touch.

♦ Observed a single-service cup used as a scoop and stored in sugar bin container in between uses.

♦ Observed interior of

reach-in freezer with food debris.

♦ Observed gaskets of reachin freezer and cooler soiled.