violating antitrust laws

By Carole C. Schriefer, R.N., J.D., The Health Law Firm
On July 14, 2016, a Colorado federal judge partly dismissed allegations against several surgical centers in claims filed by insurance companies Aetna and UnitedHealthcare. The judge disagreed that the two surgical centers committed fraud by waiving patient fees or violated antitrust laws by sending hefty bills to the insurers.

The dismissals applied to counterclaims filed by Aetna and UnitedHealthcare against four out-of-network surgical centers that are suing the insurers for allegedly blocking patient referrals. Although the centers accuse Aetna and UnitedHealthcare of anti-competitive efforts to destroy the centers’ business model, the insurers allege that the business model — which involves waiving patient fees and […]