DOJ and Ohio Sue OhioHealth Over Antitrust Concerns

The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the state of Ohio have filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against OhioHealth, a Columbus-based health system, alleging anticompetitive practices that stifle competition and drive up healthcare costs. The lawsuit, filed on February 20, 2026, claims OhioHealth imposes contract terms that limit insurers’ ability to offer lower-cost plans and restrict price competition from other hospitals [1].

Allegations of Anticompetitive Practices

Regulators allege that OhioHealth utilizes several anticompetitive contract provisions, including:

• Anti-steering provisions: These provisions prevent insurers from incentivizing patients to choose lower-cost healthcare options.
• All-or-nothing contracting: This practice requires insurers to include all of OhioHealth’s hospitals in their network, even if some are more expensive, preventing them from creating narrower, more affordable networks.

According to the DOJ, these restrictions limit consumers’ access to price information and prevent them from choosing lower-cost health plans. Omeed Assefi, acting assistant attorney general of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, stated, “Competition for healthcare is vital to all Americans. This lawsuit challenges anticompetitive contract restrictions that prevent consumers from choosing lower-cost health plans and severely limit consumers’ access to price information.” [1]

Broader Trend of Antitrust Scrutiny in Healthcare

This lawsuit against OhioHealth is part of a growing trend of increased antitrust scrutiny within the healthcare industry. In May 2025, the Justice Department similarly filed suit against three of the largest Medicare Advantage insurers and three dominant insurance brokerages, alleging a kickbacks scheme [4]. Investigative journalism has highlighted anticompetitive behavior by other major players in the healthcare market.

For example, a 2024 series by Tara Bannow, Bob Herman, Lizzy Lawrence, and Casey Ross of STAT, titled “Health Care’s Colossus,” identified UnitedHealth’s accumulation of power and anticompetitive behavior, drawing comparisons to Standard Oil [2]. Tara Bannow continues to cover hospitals, providers, and insurers for STAT [3].

Looking Ahead

The outcome of the lawsuit against OhioHealth could have significant implications for the healthcare market, potentially paving the way for greater price transparency and increased competition. The DOJ’s actions signal a commitment to enforcing antitrust laws in the healthcare sector and protecting consumers from anticompetitive practices.