A radiology group has sued St. Peter's Hospital in Helena, Mont., claiming it abused its "monopoly power" by refusing to let the group practice at the hospital, according to a Billings Gazette report.
Montana Interventional and Diagnostic Radiology Specialists in Helena is accusing St. Peter's of unfair restraint of trade and violation of laws that base hospital credentialing on economic relationships.
Two physicians within the group worked at St. Peter's through 2009, when the hospital and practice split ties and when St. Peter's granted exclusive contracts to other radiology groups.
In July 2011, the group asked for staff privileges at the hospital again. The radiologists were allegedly notified by the hospital that its radiology department was closed to non-employees, according to the report.
The physicians also claim St. Peter's has denied them access to radiology records, which prevents the physicians from comparing old and new images and forces patients to see radiologists employed by the hospital.
St. Peter's said it does not comment on ongoing litigation, according to the report.
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Montana Interventional and Diagnostic Radiology Specialists in Helena is accusing St. Peter's of unfair restraint of trade and violation of laws that base hospital credentialing on economic relationships.
Two physicians within the group worked at St. Peter's through 2009, when the hospital and practice split ties and when St. Peter's granted exclusive contracts to other radiology groups.
In July 2011, the group asked for staff privileges at the hospital again. The radiologists were allegedly notified by the hospital that its radiology department was closed to non-employees, according to the report.
The physicians also claim St. Peter's has denied them access to radiology records, which prevents the physicians from comparing old and new images and forces patients to see radiologists employed by the hospital.
St. Peter's said it does not comment on ongoing litigation, according to the report.
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