Massachusetts Enhances Regulatory Oversight of Health Care Transactions

A new Massachusetts law strengthens regulatory oversight of health care transactions to prevent anticompetitive mergers and financial instability in the industry, reports JDSupra. The law imposes False Claims Act liability on health care owners and investors for undisclosed violations and expands the enforcement powers of the Attorney General. Signed by Governor Maura Healey on January 8, 2025, the legislation aims to address gaps in oversight that contributed to hospital closures and financial turmoil, such as the Steward Health Care bankruptcy. By tightening regulations on private equity ownership, the state seeks to ensure transparency and accountability in the health care market.