The United States Department of Justice and the State of Ohio have taken a significant legal step against a major healthcare provider, filing a complaint that accuses the corporation of stifling competition in the healthcare market. On February 20, 2026, the United States and the State of Ohio filed this complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio against OhioHealth Corporation. The lawsuit alleges that OhioHealth has engaged in anticompetitive practices that violate both federal and state laws.
The complaint details how OhioHealth, a dominant hospital system in Columbus, Ohio, has allegedly used its market power to impose contractual restrictions on commercial health insurers. These restrictions prevent insurers from offering plans that could save patients money by choosing lower-cost rivals. The plaintiffs argue that such actions have effectively insulated OhioHealth from price competition, maintaining high prices for their services without pressure to improve quality or reduce costs. According to the complaint, these practices violate Section 1 of the Sherman Act and Ohio’s Valentine Act.
OhioHealth is accused of leveraging its dominance since at least 2003 to block insurers from providing patients with more affordable health insurance options. This includes preventing insurers from informing patients about lower-cost alternatives available through other providers. As a result, patients are deprived of making informed choices about their healthcare plans, which could lead to lower premiums and out-of-pocket expenses if they were able to choose plans featuring cost-effective providers.
The plaintiffs seek judicial intervention to halt these practices by requesting an injunction against OhioHealth’s restrictive contracts with payors. They aim to restore competitive conditions in the Columbus healthcare market by allowing insurers to offer budget-conscious plans without facing retaliation from OhioHealth. The lawsuit also calls for transparency regarding pricing information so that patients can make better-informed decisions about their healthcare options.
Representing the plaintiffs are attorneys from both federal and state levels: Paul J. Torzilli and his team from the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division and Thomas J. Collin along with Beth A. Finnerty from the Office of the Attorney General for Ohio. The case is presided over by judges whose names are yet unspecified under Case ID 2:26-cv-00207-ALM-EPD.
Source: 226cv00207_United_States_of_America_v_Ohiohealth_Corporation_Complaint_Southern_District_Ohio.pdf
