An antitrust suit filed by an ambulatory surgery center against Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois and Southern Illinois Healthcare in Carbondale faces an uphill battle after a federal judge dismissed a major tenet of the case, according to a Crain's Chicago Business report.
The suit originally filed by Marion (Ill.) HealthCare claimed BCBS of Illinois, one of the largest private insurers in the state, entered into exclusive contracts with Southern Illinois Healthcare that granted the system in-network status that kept the ASC from being competitive in the market. Marion HealthCare also asserts these contracts prevent BCBS of Illinois from giving the same in-network status to any of Southern Illinois' competitors, including Marion HealthCare, according to the report.
A federal judge has ruled the allegations do not constitute an antitrust violation. To continue to pursue the case, Marion HealthCare must resubmit the complaint without the antitrust claims, according to the report.
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