STAT+: FTC notches modest victory in reining in Welsh Carson's anesthesia empire

At the tail end of Joe Biden’s presidency, the Federal Trade Commission announced Friday it reached a settlement with Welsh, Carson, Anderson, and Stowe that limits the private equity firm’s involvement in its anesthesia business, which the agency deemed a monopoly.

The news revives an FTC pursuit that seemed dead last year after a district judge dismissed the agency’s case against Welsh Carson. For this second go-around, the FTC took the back door route of drafting a new complaint and presenting it to Welsh Carson without filing it in court. The choice: Either settle or we’ll serve this. Welsh Carson said it chose the former to avoid more expense and distraction. 

The FTC also sued the anesthesia business, U.S. Anesthesia Partners, in 2023, and the federal judge who dismissed Welsh Carson declined to dismiss USAP. The case against USAP is ongoing. 

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