Healthcare Antitrust Stat: Justice Department Challenges OhioHealth’s Pricing Practices
Updated on: February 20, 2026 / 2:00 PM EST
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a civil antitrust complaint against OhioHealth Corporation, one of Ohio’s largest healthcare systems, alleging practices that drive up healthcare costs for patients. This marks the DOJ’s first major civil antitrust enforcement action in the healthcare sector in approximately a year, signaling a renewed focus on affordability and competition.
The Allegations: Restricting Competition and Inflating Prices
The complaint, brought jointly with the Ohio Attorney General, argues that OhioHealth has engaged in anticompetitive behavior since at least 2003. Specifically, the DOJ alleges that OhioHealth’s contractual restrictions with commercial health insurance companies prevent the offering of lower-cost plans to patients. This effectively limits patient choice and forces them to pay higher prices for care.
According to the DOJ, these restrictions deprive patients of the ability to choose plans that balance cost and access. If lower-cost options were available, employers and patients could benefit from significantly reduced premiums and out-of-pocket expenses. This case highlights a critical stat regarding healthcare affordability and the impact of market dominance.
A Shift in Leadership and a Renewed Focus on Affordability
The timing of this action is noteworthy, coming shortly after the replacement of Gail Slater, the former Assistant Attorney General, with Omeed Assefi in an acting capacity. Assefi emphasized the administration’s commitment to affordability, stating the DOJ’s intention to be “as aggressive in enforcement as possible because of the returns that come to everyday people.”
OhioHealth’s Response and Market Position
OhioHealth, which owns or manages 16 hospitals and outpatient facilities, dominates the healthcare landscape in the Columbus area. The system competes with Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Mount Carmel Health System (owned by Trinity Health). A spokesperson for OhioHealth stated they had not yet been served with the complaint and declined to comment on pending litigation.
Key Statistics and the Broader Context
Justice Department officials revealed that OhioHealth holds approximately a 40% market share and has negotiated prices with insurance companies roughly 50% higher than its competitors. This stat underscores the significant financial impact of the alleged anticompetitive practices. The investigation into OhioHealth has been ongoing for several years and is part of a larger trend of scrutiny towards dominant healthcare systems across the United States.
This case echoes a similar settlement reached in 2018 with Atrium Health (formerly Carolinas HealthCare System) in Charlotte, North Carolina, which involved comparable claims of anticompetitive steering restrictions. Assefi affirmed that the DOJ’s enforcement agenda remains “very much alive and thriving.”
Further Resources
For more information on antitrust enforcement in healthcare, you can visit the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division website. You can also find valuable insights from Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) regarding healthcare policy and affordability.
