FTC staff criticizes merger remedy

In an earlier post, (Will negotiating teams from the same firm compete with each other?), we questioned the remedy proposed as relief to the Evanston hospital merger as it required negotiators to act against their self interest. The FTC staff has just given the remedy a big thumbs down:

"We must respectfully remind the Commission, however, that a remedy along the lines proposed by ENH, and contemplated by the Commission's decision, will not likely solve the competitive problems caused by this unlawful merger.

This is bureaucratese for "no."