DOJ Sues OhioHealth for Alleged Anti-Competitive Practices

Lawsuit claims health system's contract restrictions limit consumer choice and inflate healthcare costs

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Ohio Attorney General have filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against OhioHealth Corporation, alleging the Columbus-based health system is using anticompetitive practices to restrict competition and drive up healthcare costs for patients. The lawsuit focuses on contract terms that prevent insurers from incentivizing patients to choose lower-cost providers and require insurers to include all of OhioHealth's facilities in their networks.

Why it matters

The lawsuit highlights growing concerns about healthcare consolidation and anticompetitive behavior by large hospital systems, which can limit consumer choice and access to affordable care. If successful, the case could set a precedent for increased antitrust enforcement in the healthcare industry and prompt other systems to reconsider their contracting strategies.

The details

The DOJ alleges that OhioHealth's 'anti-steering' and 'all-or-nothing' contract provisions effectively box out competitors and prevent insurers from negotiating lower prices. These restrictions, the DOJ argues, ultimately lead to Columbus residents paying more for healthcare services. The lawsuit claims OhioHealth is leveraging its market dominance as the largest healthcare system in central Ohio to maintain high prices.

  • The DOJ and Ohio Attorney General filed the civil antitrust lawsuit on February 20, 2026.
  • The case is being heard in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.

The players

Department of Justice (DOJ)

The U.S. federal agency responsible for enforcing antitrust laws and investigating anticompetitive practices.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost

The chief legal officer for the state of Ohio, partnering with the DOJ in this lawsuit against OhioHealth.

OhioHealth Corporation

A Columbus-based healthcare system that the DOJ alleges is using anticompetitive contract terms to limit competition and inflate healthcare costs.

Omeed Assefi

The Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department's Antitrust Division.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Omeed Assefi, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department's Antitrust Division (newsdirectory3.com)

What’s next

The lawsuit is currently being heard in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. A successful outcome could compel OhioHealth to allow insurers to offer more competitive plans and enable patients to make more informed choices about their healthcare.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing scrutiny of anticompetitive practices within the healthcare industry, particularly around hospital consolidation and restrictive contracting. The outcome could set a precedent for increased antitrust enforcement and prompt other large health systems to reconsider their strategies for maintaining market dominance.