Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center in Reno, Nev., has filed a lawsuit against its Reno competitor Renown Health, accusing Renown of employing unfair business tactics to cripple Saint Mary's cardiology program.
The suit claims Renown has withheld 10,000 cardiology patients' information from physicians who have moved from Renown to Saint Mary's, according to a KTNV report.
This is not the first suit against Renown regarding its cardiology market share. The first lawsuit was initiated three years ago when Renown acquired two cardiology practices in the area, giving the provider control of cardiology in the region, according to a Reno Gazette Journal report. The Federal Trade Commission intervened and ordered Renown to make several changes, including allowing acquired physicians to move to Saint Mary's without penalty.
Saint Mary's suit claims Renown has not followed the FTC's orders. The suit alleges patients contacting Renown to make appointments with cardiologists now at Saint Mary's have been given the impression they must see a Renown cardiologist, according to the Reno Gazette Journal.
"Such tactics are wrongful, improper and are injuring Saint Mary’s business," according to the suit. "These tactics are also having an adverse impact on the availability and access to continuity of healthcare, all to the detriment of open and fair competition and to patient care."
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