A legal battle between OhioHealth and the United States Justice Department appears to be over after the government and the health care giant reached an agreement.
The Columbus-based health system announced the agreement on June 16, bringing an end to antitrust litigation first filed in February. As part of the agreement, OhioHealth “does not admit any wrongdoing” and will not face penalties or fines, according to an OhioHealth press release.
There was no immediate confirmation of the deal by the federal government or Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s office, but the agreement was filed in the U.S. Southern District Court of Ohio. It is still pending a judge’s approval.
On Feb. 20, the U.S Department of Justice and the Ohio Attorney General’s office sued OhioHealth for anticompetitive practices, or practices that reduce competition and usually result in less care options and higher prices for patients.
OhioHealth vehemently denied the allegations and said in court filings that the DOJ did not have evidence to prove their claims.
This breaking story will be updated.
Business and consumer issues reporter Samantha Hendrickson can be reached at shendrickson@dispatch.com
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: OhioHealth says DOJ agreement reached to end antitrust case
Reporting by Samantha Hendrickson, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Samantha Hendrickson, Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
