Under the settlement, Sutter will do the following changes:
- Limit its charges to patients for out-of-network services to ensure that they will not receive surprise medical bills
- Increase transparency by allowing insurers, employers and self-funded payers to provide plan members with access to pricing, quality, and cost information.
- Stop measures that deny patients access to lower-cost plans
- End all-or-nothing contracting deals
- Cease anticompetitive bundling of services and products
- Cooperate with a court-approved compliance monitor to ensure its compliance with the terms of the settlement
- Clearly set definitions on clinical integration and patient access considerations
Settlement with Sutter restores competition in the healthcare markets
In a statement, AG Becerra said, “When one healthcare provider can dominate the market, those who shoulder the cost of care — patients, employers, insurers — are the biggest losers.”
The Attorney General added, “Today’s settlement will be a game changer for restoring competition in our healthcare markets…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.”
