STAT+: DOJ’s swift win in OhioHealth case should have hospitals studying their contracts, experts say

STAT PlusBusiness DOJ’s swift win in OhioHealth case should have hospitals studying their contracts, experts say The lawsuit, accusing the health system of driving up prices, was filed in February Manage alerts for this article Email this article Share this article By Tara BannowJune 17, 2026 Hospitals and Insurance Reporter Tara Bannow[email protected]Tara covers the business of health care. Her stories focus on hospitals, doctors, and how their business practices affect patients — especially when private equity gets involved. She also writes about health insurance and ideas for improving our broken health system. You can reach Tara on Signal at tarabannow.70. Legal experts say the speed and decisiveness of the Department of Justice’s proposed antitrust settlement with OhioHealth should put other hospitals on notice. The DOJ and Ohio attorney general’s proposed settlement announced Wednesday would require nonprofit OhioHealth to quit using certain contracting practices that the agencies say prevented health insurers from selling cheaper policies. The deal, which comes just four months after the agencies sued the Columbus-based system, will likely push other health systems to examine their own contracting practices. Advertisement “I would expect lawyers will get pretty busy looking at contracts with payers,” said Katie Keith, the director of Georgetown University’s Center for Health Policy and the Law. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus daily market-moving biopharma analysis — by subscribing to STAT+. Already have an account? Log in Monthly $39 Totals $468 per year $39/month Get Started Totals $468 per year Starter $30 for 3 months, then $399/year $30 for 3 months Get Started Then $399/year Annual $399 Save 15% $399/year Get Started Save 15% 11+ Users Custom Savings start at 25%! Request A Quote Request A Quote Savings start at 25%! 2-10 Users $300 Annually per user $300/year Get Started $300 Annually per user View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe Log In legal, Policy, STAT+ Submit a correction requestReprints Tara Bannow Hospitals and Insurance Reporter Tara covers the business of health care. Her stories focus on hospitals, doctors, and how their business practices affect patients — especially when private equity gets involved. She also writes about health insurance and ideas for improving our broken health system. You can reach Tara on Signal at tarabannow.70. Newsletter Unpacking the business — and secretive inner workings — of the U.S. health care industry Recommended Business June 17, 2026 Luigi Mangione will assert psychiatric defense in murder case in UnitedHealthcare CEO’s killing The Readout June 17, 2026 STAT Plus: FDA appears open to Moderna’s flu vaccine ahead of adcomm Advertisement The Readout June 16, 2026 STAT Plus: ARCH-launched Neumora stops depression program The Readout June 15, 2026 STAT Plus: Lilly’s Ajax acquisition may have been worth it The Readout June 12, 2026 STAT Plus: Prometheus raises $12 billion in capital for artificial engineers Subscriber Picks