Sutter Health, a 24-hospital system based in Sacramento, Calif., has agreed to pay $575 million to settle an antitrust case brought by employers and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra.
The settlement resolves allegations that Sutter Health violated California's antitrust laws by using its market power to overcharge patients and employer-funded health plans. The class members alleged Sutter Health's inflated prices led to $756 million in overcharges, according to Bloomberg Law.
Under the terms of the settlement, Sutter will pay $575 million to employers, unions and others covered under the class action. The health system will also be required to make several other changes, including limiting what it charges patients for out-of-network services, halting measurers that deny patients access to lower-cost health plans, and improving access to pricing, quality and cost information, according to a Dec. 20 release from Mr. Becerra.
To ensure Sutter is complying with the terms of the settlement, the health system will be required to cooperate with a court-approved compliance monitor for at least 10 years.
Mr. Becerra said the settlement, which he called "a game changer for restoring competition," is a warning to other organizations.
"This first-in-the-nation comprehensive settlement should send a clear message to the markets: if you're looking to consolidate for any reason other than efficiency that delivers better quality for a lower price, think again. The California Department of Justice is prepared to protect consumers and competition, especially when it comes to healthcare," he said.
A Sutter spokesperson told The New York Times that the settlement did not acknowledge wrongdoing. "We were able to resolve this matter in a way that enables Sutter Health to maintain our integrated network and ability to provide patients with access to affordable, high-quality care," said Flo Di Benedetto, Sutter's senior vice president and general counsel, in a statement to The Times.
The settlement must be approved by the court. A hearing on the settlement is scheduled for Feb. 25, 2020.
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