UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF WEST VIRGINIA

CHARLESTON DIVISION

)

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,	)

)

Plaintiff,	)

)	Civil Action No. 2:06-0091

v.	)

)	Filed: 2-6-06

CHARLESTON AREA MEDICAL CENTER,	)

INC.,	)

)

Defendant.	)

)

PLAINTIFF UNITED STATES' EXPLANATION
OF CONSENT DECREE PROCEDURES

Plaintiff United States submits this short memorandum summarizing the procedures regarding the Court's entry of the proposed Final Judgment. This Judgment would settle this case pursuant to the Antitrust Procedures and Penalties Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 16(b)-(h) (the "APPA"), which applies to civil antitrust cases brought and settled by the United States.

1. Today, the United States has filed a Complaint, Competitive Impact Statement, and proposed Final Judgment. The Defendant, Charleston Area Medical Center, Inc., has stipulated that the Court may enter the proposed Final Judgment following compliance with the APPA.

2.	The APPA requires that the United States publish the Competitive Impact Statement and proposed Final Judgment in the Federal Register and in certain newspapers at least sixty (60) days prior to entry of the proposed Final Judgment. The notice will inform members of the public that they may submit comments about the proposed Final Judgment to the United States Department of Justice, Antitrust Division (see 15 U.S.C. §§ 16(b)-(c)).

3. During the sixty-day period, the United States will consider, and at the close of that period respond to, any comments that it has received, and it will publish the comments and plaintiff United States' responses in the Federal Register.

4. After the expiration of the sixty-day period, the United States will file with the Court the comments and the United States' responses, and it may ask the Court to enter the proposed Final Judgment (unless the United States has decided to withdraw its consent to entry of the Judgment, as permitted by Paragraph 2 of the Stipulation, see 15 U.S.C. § 16(d)).

5. If the United States requests that the Court enter the proposed Final Judgment after compliance with the APPA, 15 U.S.C. §§ 16(e)-(f), then the Court may enter the Final Judgment without a hearing, provided that it concludes that the Final Judgment is in the public interest.

Dated: February 6, 2006

Respectfully submitted,

FOR PLAINTIFF UNITED STATES:	Charles T. Miller

Acting United States Attorney

___________/s/_________________	By:	_________/s/__________________

Peter J. Mucchetti	Kelly R. Curry

Mitchell H. Glende	Assistant United States Attorney

Attorneys for the United States

Antitrust Division

United States Department of Justice

1401 H Street, N.W., Suite 4000

Washington, D.C. 20530

Telephone: (202) 353-4211

Facsimile: (202) 307-5802