WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced March 7 that Air Medical Group and AMR Holdco, two providers of ambulance services, will divest inter-facility air ambulance transport services before completing their proposed merger.
Air Medical Group and AMR Holdco are the only companies that currently provide air ambulance services in Hawaii. These air ambulances help transport patients between medical facilities throughout the islands that make up the state. According to the FTC, patients rely on these services because each island has certain medical procedures that may not be available on other islands.
The FTC said the proposed merger between Air Medical Group and AMR Holdco would have violated U.S. antitrust laws and eliminated competition for air ambulance services in the state. To settle the allegations, AMR Holdco will divest its inter-facility air ambulance transport services business and supporting assets to AIRMD LLC, which does business as LifeTeam.
The FTC voted 2-0 to issue the complaint and accept the proposed consent order, which will go before public comment through April 6. After this date, the commission will determine whether to finalize the proposed consent order. A description of the agreement will be published in the Federal Register.
The Hawaii Department of the Attorney General assisted in the case.