Over a dozen Florida doctors and provider groups are seeking nearly $350 million from integrated system Health First for allegedly violating antitrust law in a trial scheduled to begin in August.
Multispecialty physician group Omni Healthcare and several physicians as well as provider groups allege that Health First maintains a monopoly by “intimidating physicians or otherwise obstructing their ability to practice medicine in southern Brevard County if they do not ‘play ball’ with Health First and refer their patients exclusively to Health First’s hospitals and physician specialists.”
Specifically, they allege that Health First’s 2013 acquisition of physician group Melbourne Internal Medicine Associates lessened competition in the region and increased the system’s monopoly in violation of antitrust law. The physicians and groups want the acquisition reversed and are seeking triple damages—a figure that could rise to as much as $346 million, said the plaintiffs’ attorney.
Health First also faces similar allegations in several other lawsuits, including one filed by public hospital Parrish Medical Center last year in state court. In that case, Parrish, operated by the North Brevard County Hospital District, alleges that Health First requires its doctors to admit and refer almost exclusively to its own facilities.
Full Content: Modern Healthcare
Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.
Featured News
T-Mobile’s Acquisition of Ka’ena Corporation Receives FCC Approval
Apr 26, 2024 by
CPI
UK Regulator Announces Two New Senior Executive Appointments
Apr 26, 2024 by
CPI
Paramount Global and Skydance Media Near Merger Deal, Eyeing CEO Change
Apr 26, 2024 by
CPI
BHP Unveils £31bn Mining Megamerger Proposal with Anglo American
Apr 25, 2024 by
nhoch@pymnts.com
ByteDance Prefers Shutdown Over Sale of TikTok Amid US Ban Threats
Apr 25, 2024 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – Economics of Criminal Antitrust
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
Navigating Economic Expert Work in Criminal Antitrust Litigation
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
The Increased Importance of Economics in Cartel Cases
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
A Law and Economics Analysis of the Antitrust Treatment of Physician Collective Price Agreements
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
Information Exchange In Criminal Antitrust Cases: How Economic Testimony Can Tip The Scales
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI