FTC and merging health care competition and consumer issues

Not quite sure what do with this but I am left wondering about the timing. Will the result be different if McCain beats Obama?

FR Doc E8-20399: "SUMMARY: The Federal Trade Commission (``FTC'' or ``Commission'') announces it will hold two workshops and roundtables in the fall of 2008 on emerging health care competition and consumer issues. They will focus on two distinct areas in which competition and consumer protection policies are implicated: (1) competition provided by developing an abbreviated regulatory approval pathway for follow-on biologic drugs; and (2) competition among health care providers based on quality information. The workshops and roundtables will be held at and administered by the FTC and their dates will be announced in a separate public notice.

This notice poses a series of questions for which the FTC seeks public comment. The Commission will consider these comments as it prepares for the public workshops and roundtables. In the spring of 2009, the FTC will release a report that analyzes the potential impacts on the marketplace of various policy options in these two areas.

DATES: Specific dates for the workshops and roundtables will be announced shortly, along with an agenda. Comments on the questions contained in this Notice must be received on or before September 30, 2008. In addition, any interested person may submit written comments to any of the topics addressed during the workshops. Comments directed at a particular subject considered in a workshop or roundtable must be received no later than 30 days after the date of that workshop or roundtable.