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Posted Date: June 18th, 2026 |
The Ohio Attorney General’s Office and the U.S. Department of Justice have reached a proposed settlement with OhioHealth aimed at stopping the healthcare system from enforcing contract terms that allegedly limited insurers’ ability to help patients find lower-cost care.
The proposed settlement was filed June 17, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. It resolves allegations that OhioHealth used its market power in central Ohio to require insurers to accept contract provisions that restricted competition and limited patients’ access to information about alternative healthcare providers.
According to the lawsuit, filed in February, OhioHealth prevented insurers from sharing information with patients about the cost or availability of other healthcare providers. The lawsuit also alleged that OhioHealth restricted insurers from encouraging patients to choose lower-cost providers for comparable care.
Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson said the settlement is intended to improve transparency and fairness in the healthcare market.
“Healthcare works best when patients have clear choices and honest information,” Wilson said. “This settlement promotes fairness and creates a better system for everyone.”
Under the proposed settlement, OhioHealth will be barred from enforcing contract provisions that limit insurers from sharing price or other information that could influence a patient’s choice of provider. The settlement also prohibits OhioHealth from restricting insurers from encouraging patients to seek care from lower-cost providers.
OhioHealth must notify insurers that any such contract provisions are no longer valid and take steps to ensure compliance with the agreement.
The settlement remains subject to approval by the court.
