U.S. Anesthesia Partners Files Motion to Dismiss FTC’s Misguided Civil Complaint

DALLAS, TX, November 20, 2023 – U.S. Anesthesia Partners (“USAP”), a leading provider of high-quality anesthesia care, today filed a motion to dismiss the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) civil complaint alleging that certain USAP business practices violate U.S. competition laws.

USAP filed a motion to dismiss the complaint because, among other things, the FTC has inaccurately represented the anesthesia market in Texas and has failed to properly allege that USAP has monopoly power by charging more than a competitive price.

Dr. J. Scott Holliday, a USAP physician in Texas and a USAP Board member, said: “The FTC’s civil complaint against USAP is based on flawed legal theories and a lack of understanding about the health care industry. It is an attack on our independent, physician-owned and physician-led medical practice rather than a valid complaint that has credible allegations of anticompetitive harm. USAP has filed a motion to dismiss this complaint given the agency is acting outside the scope of its authorized powers.”

Texas is a highly competitive health care environment and USAP competes with both large and small anesthesia groups as well as individual anesthesiologists across the state. Additionally, the reimbursements USAP receives for care are in line with industry standards and reflect the complex nature of treating the most critically ill patients.

Dr. Derek Schoppa, another practicing USAP physician in Texas and a USAP Board member, added: “The FTC’s allegations are misguided. Our collaborative partnerships with facilities and health systems have led to improved clinical protocols and superior quality programs that bring significant value by helping to reduce the total cost of care to health plans and patients. We remain focused on caring for the patients we serve in our communities.”

The motion to dismiss was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. More information can be found at www.usap.com/news/ftc-information.

About U.S. Anesthesia Partners

USAP is the leading single-specialty anesthesia practice, dedicated to providing high-quality anesthesia services to over 2 million patients across the national annually. With over 4,500 clinicians and expertise in many anesthesia subspecialties, including pediatric, cardiac and OB anesthesia. USAP sets the standard for high-quality patient care. Its data-driven quality metrics enable continuous innovation and improvements that are shared across USAP via a robust Clinical Quality Committee and quality framework. This helps facilitate the delivery of consistent, high-quality services for patients, surgeons, facilities, and health plans. The company's clinicians serve healthcare communities in Texas, Florida, Colorado, Nevada, Washington, Kansas, Indiana, Tennessee, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. To learn more about USAP, visit: www.usap.com