FTC to let Amazon buy One Medical

 

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will not file legal action in time to stop Amazon's acquisition of One Medical, the Wall Street Journal reports.  The decision clears the path for Amazon to form major inroads into the healthcare industry.  FTC spokesperson Douglas Farrar said the agency will not sue in time to block Amazon's $3.9B merger with 1Life Healthcare Inc., the owner of primary care provider One Medical.  The FTC's investigation looked into Amazon's potential misuse of patient data from One Medical, among other concerns. Farrar said that the FTC would continue "to look at possible harms to competition created by this merger" despite allowing it to proceed. The merger with One Medical will see Amazon take over medical offices in over 20 U.S. markets and begin working with thousands of companies to provide healthcare.