TL/DR –
The US Justice Department, along with the Ohio Attorney General, have filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against OhioHealth Corporation for anticompetitive contract restrictions leading to elevated healthcare prices. The contract restrictions prevent insurers from offering innovative and cost-saving health-insurance plans, forcing Ohio patients to pay high prices even when cheaper options are available. The lawsuit calls for the cessation of these contracts and aims to restore competition, giving customers access to lower-cost and high-quality healthcare options.
Justice Department and Ohio AG File Antitrust Lawsuit Against OhioHealth
The U.S. Justice Department’s Antitrust Division and Ohio Attorney General have jointly filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against OhioHealth Corporation. The lawsuit alleges that OhioHealth’s contract restrictions are anticompetitive, forcing Ohio patients to pay inflated prices for healthcare services.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio and aims to prevent OhioHealth from enforcing these anticompetitive contract terms that stifle healthcare competition. OhioHealth is the largest healthcare system in central Ohio.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated, “Americans are entitled to affordable, high-quality healthcare, not hospital system contracts that increase healthcare costs. We will continue taking legal action to protect consumers and reduce healthcare costs in America under President Trump’s leadership.”
Acting Assistant Attorney General Omeed A. Assefi from the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division added, “Competition in healthcare is essential for all Americans. This lawsuit addresses contract restrictions that obstruct consumers from choosing cost-saving health plans and severely restrict access to price information. These limitations result in higher prices for lower-quality healthcare for many Columbus residents.”
The lawsuit alleges OhioHealth leverages its market dominance to enforce contract restrictions that hinder or entirely block insurers from offering innovative, cost-saving health-insurance plans. OhioHealth typically compels insurers to include it in all their commercial insurance product networks, regardless of how its prices compare to competitors. This practice obstructs the development of budget-conscious plans in the Columbus area.
OhioHealth operates or manages 16 hospitals and outpatient facilities across Ohio, thereby influencing healthcare options and costs for many Ohio residents.
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