DoJ & Ohio Anti Trust Lawsuit Against OhioHealth

The U.S. Justice Department’s Antitrust Division and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost filed an antitrust lawsuit Friday against OhioHealth Corporation’s (OhioHealth) anticompetitive practices.  The suit alleges that OhioHealth uses its market power to impose contractual restrictions which strangle insurers, preventing them from offering innovative and money-saving health-insurance plans and plan features.

OhioHealth is another "not-for-profit" system of hospitals and healthcare providers operating in the central Ohio area, based in their state capitol Columbus. OhioHealth owns and operates 16 hospitals as well as 300 ambulatory facilities, hospices, medical equipment suppliers, and other health care sites in 55 Ohio counties.

It is not yet clear how the February 12th ouster of Abigail (Gail) Slater, who was the United States Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division will affect this litigation.  AAG Slater had a "strained relationship" with Attorney General Pam Bondi, who told the White House in recent weeks that their differences over the direction and management of the Antitrust Division were irreconcilable:

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-sues-ohiohealth-anticompetitive-healthcare-contracts-increase-costs-ohio

Justice Department Sues OhioHealth for Anticompetitive Healthcare Contracts That Increase Costs for Ohio Patients
For Immediate Release
U.S. Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs

February 20, 2026

Lawsuit Seeks to Reduce Healthcare Costs in Ohio by Allowing Patients, Employers, and Health Insurers to Choose Lower Cost Healthcare Options

The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, together with the Attorney General of Ohio, filed a civil antitrust lawsuit today challenging OhioHealth Corporation’s (OhioHealth) anticompetitive contract restrictions that force Ohio patients to pay higher prices for healthcare.

The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, seeks to enjoin OhioHealth, the largest healthcare system in central Ohio, from enforcing its anticompetitive contractual terms and continuing to suppress healthcare competition.

“Americans deserve low-cost, high-quality healthcare – not anticompetitive hospital system contracts that make healthcare less affordable,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Under President Trump’s leadership, this Department of Justice will continue taking legal action to protect consumers and drive down healthcare costs across America."

“Competition for healthcare is vital to all Americans,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Omeed A. Assefi of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “This lawsuit challenges anticompetitive contract restrictions that prevent consumers from choosing lower-cost health plans and severely limit consumers’ access to price information. These restrictions cause many Columbus residents to pay more for lower-quality healthcare. American families and consumers deserve better. I appreciate the partnership with Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost to challenge these restrictions as we work together to open this important market to the very real benefits of open competition.”

As alleged in the complaint, OhioHealth uses its market power to impose contractual restrictions that impede or completely prevent insurers from offering innovative and money-saving health-insurance plans or plan features. OhioHealth generally forces insurers to include OhioHealth in all of the networks for the commercial insurance products they offer, regardless of how OhioHealth’s prices compare to its competitors, preventing the development of budget-conscious plans in the Columbus area. Without these lower cost and innovative plan options that empower patients to save money by selecting lower-cost providers who still provide high-quality care, patients and employers are faced with fewer health plan choices and higher costs.

OhioHealth owns or manages 16 hospitals and outpatient facilities throughout the State of Ohio.