Trinity Health in Livonia, Mich., and Anesthesia Associates of Ann Arbor (Mich.) reached a five-year agreement that resolved their dispute over noncompete clauses, the organizations said Sept. 5.
In July, Trinity Health filed a federal lawsuit against the medical group, called A4, that claimed its noncompete clauses could threaten operations at six of Trinity's hospitals where A4 was its exclusive anesthesiology provider. In August, A4 sued Trinity Health in state court, alleging the health system ignored noncompete agreements and improperly tried to hire away clinicians.
The new agreement ends the lawsuits between both organizations. It allows A4 anesthesiologists to treat patients at five Trinity Health hospitals in southeastern Michigan. In Grand Rapids, Trinity is transitioning its anesthesia services to another model, and per the new agreement, A4 released its Grand Rapids physicians from noncompetes.