FTC Seeks Public Comment on Universal Health Services' Application to Sell Las Vegas Psychiatric Facilities

Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) is seeking the approval of the Federal Trade Commission to sell its Las Vegas psychiatric facilities, including Montevista Hospital and Red Rock Behavioral Health Hospital, to Dr. Soon Kim through Signature Health Services, LLC, which does business as Aurora Behavioral Healthcare. UHS is required to sell the assets under an FTC order settling charges that UHS’s 2010 acquisition of Psychiatric Solutions, Inc. as originally proposed was anticompetitive.

According to UHS’s application, the sale will satisfy the terms of the FTC order. UHS contends that Signature has the financial, professional, and operational resources to be a strong and effective competitive force in the Las Vegas, Nevada, market for the provision of acute inpatient psychiatric services. Under the terms of the FTC order, UHS must still divest inpatient psychiatric facilities in Puerto Rico and Delaware.

The Commission is accepting public comment on the application until July 5, 2011, after which it will decide whether to approve the sale. Written comments should be sent to: FTC Office of the Secretary, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20580. To file a comment electronically, click here and follow the instructions. Copies of the application also can be found on the FTC’s website and as a link to this press release. (FTC File No. 101-0142, Docket No. C-4309; the staff contact is Elizabeth A. Piotrowski, Bureau of Competition, 202-326-2623; see press release dated November 15, 2010.)

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