Masto
CARSON CITY, Nev. (Legal Newsline) - The Nevada Attorney General's Office is investigating Renown Health, northern Nevada's largest health network, for partnerships it has formed with dozens of cardiologists in the area.
According to the Reno Gazette-Journal, the Attorney General's Office is working with the Federal Trade Commission on the investigation.
Terri Hendry, Renown's director of communications, said in a statement to the Gazette-Journal that it had received an informal inquiry from Catherine Cortez Masto's office and the FTC.
"Their interest is not unexpected given the size of the transaction, and we've met (with Nevada AG and FTC representatives) and are cooperating and providing requested information. We are confident that this change is in the best interest of consumers and will result in improved coordination of heart services in the region," Hendry said.
The Attorney General's Office and the FTC are concerned about consumer protection and preventing anti-competitive business practices.
However, Renown told the newspaper that the partnerships will actually enhance patient care.
According to its website, Renown is based in Reno and serves a 17-county region compromised of northern Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California.
The company claims to offer access to more health care services than all other providers in the region. This includes, according to its website, four hospitals plus Nevada's only National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions-affiliated Children's Hospital and Children's ER. It also offers the region's only accredited trauma center to treat seriously injured patients.
From Legal Newsline: Reach Jessica Karmasek by e-mail at jessica@legalnewsline.com.