The Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division, alongside the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, has filed a civil antitrust suit against New York-Presbyterian, alleging the hospital system used contractual restrictions that limited access to lower-cost healthcare options. The case, United States Of America v. New York Presbyterian Hospital, is an important marker of where federal healthcare enforcement appears to be headed: closer scrutiny of contract terms that may steer patients away from cheaper alternatives and preserve market power for dominant providers.

According to the government, the challenged restrictions allegedly prevented health plans from offering or promoting more affordable options that would exclude or limit New York-Presbyterian’s participation.

One of the most closely watched healthcare merger disputes is still the Justice Department’s challenge to UnitedHealth Group’s proposed acquisition of Amedisys — and, just as importantly, the government’s willingness to resolve that challenge through a divestiture package rather than insisting on an all-or-nothing court fight.

The proposed settlement, reached with the U.S. Department of Justice and a coalition of state attorneys general from Maryland, Illinois, New Jersey, and New York, would require substantial asset sales to address competitive concerns tied to home health and hospice markets.

The U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division, joined by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, has filed a civil antitrust case against The New York and Presbyterian Hospital, alleging the hospital used contractual restrictions that limited insurers’ ability to steer patients to lower-cost providers.

The case, United States Of America v. New York Presbyterian Hospital, is one to watch for healthcare providers, payors, and counsel advising on managed care contracting.

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division, joined by the Ohio Attorney General, has filed a civil antitrust suit against OhioHealth, alleging the health system used contracting practices that unlawfully restricted competition and increased healthcare costs. The case, United States of America et al v. OhioHealth Corporation, puts a spotlight on how enforcers are continuing to scrutinize not just mergers, but also the day-to-day terms health systems negotiate with commercial payers.

That distinction matters.