Mar 5, 2021 1:00pm The FTC announced it was investigating a proposed merger between Atrium Navicent and Houston Healthcare before the deal collapsed late last month. (Getty/Kritchanut) The Federal Trade Commission was investigating a proposed merger between Atrium Health Navicent and Houston Healthcare System, which was called off late last month. The agency disclosed that it was investigating the deal between two Georgia systems and had determined that it would have harmed prices and quality had the merger gone through. The investigation, which is now closed, is the latest by the agency into hospital deals. “The proposed transaction threatened to increase healthcare costs for employers and patients in the region and would have substantially lessened competition that has benefitted the community through expansion of healthcare services and improved quality of care,” said FTC Acting Chairwoman Rebecca Slaughter in a statement on Wednesday.