Federal and state statutes that prohibit institutional mergers and acquisitions, exclusive contracts, joint ventures, price discriminations, price fixing, monopolies, and business dealings in situations that may greatly reduce competition, which may lead to a detrimental effect on consumer welfare. In medical care, this concerns arrangements between specialists that render exclusive service contracts with their hospitals. The main federal antitrust acts are: Sherman Antitrust Act (1890), Clayton Act (1914), Federal Trade Commission Act (1914), and Robinson-Patman Act (1936).