Health-care sector facing increased antitrust scrutiny [View All]

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Source: The Washington Post

Amid growing concern about rising health-care costs, the Justice Department is stepping up efforts against hospitals and insurers that it suspects are illegally blocking competitors.

Department officials are not talking, but a recent settlement the government reached with a Texas hospital system has antitrust experts buzzing.

In the first case of its kind since 1999, the department sued United Regional Health System in Wichita Falls for allegedly giving health insurers strong incentives not to do business with rival hospitals. That practice allowed United Regional to keep its monopoly, according to the lawsuit, while also becoming one of the most expensive hospitals in the state.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/health_care_sector_facing_increased_antitrust_scrutiny/2011/04/01/AFIYc9fC_story.html