U.S. Opens Investigation Into Partners HealthCare’s Possible Antitrust Behavior

The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a civil investigation into possible anticompetitive behaviors by Boston-based Partners HealthCare System and issued letters requesting information related to the system’s contracting procedures with health insurers to Partners and Massachusetts’ three largest insurance companies on Apr. 19, according to a report in The Boston Globe.

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The companies were also asked to provide documents relating to Partners’ contract negotiations and, specifically, what its Boston teaching hospitals are receiving in reimbursements, according to the report. The insurance companies identified by the Globe as contacted by the DOJ were Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare and Tufts Health Plan.

Partners’ clout and ability to draw high reimbursements has placed the hospital system under scrutiny, according to the report. Last year, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley launched an investigation into practices between the system and BCBS of Massachusetts. The status of this investigation is currently unclear, according to the report.

Read the Globe’s report on the DOJ’s investigation into Partners.

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