DOJ, state sue health system over insurance contract language

The U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division and state of North Carolina yesterday filed a civil action in federal district court against Carolinas HealthCare System challenging certain language in contracts between CHS and insurance companies. The complaint alleges that the health system’s steering provisions are anticompetitive. “Carolinas HealthCare System is committed to fair competition and looks forward to presenting our position in court,” the health system said in a statement. “We have neither violated any law nor deviated from accepted health care industry practices for contracting and negotiation. In fact, we have been applauded by the United States government for the quality care and cost reduction programs we’ve implemented, programs it hopes to model in other parts of the country.”