For five years, the Memorial Hermann Healthcare System in Houston (MHHS) is not allowed to ask health insurers what they pay to other hospitals, among other restrictions contained in a consent decree.
This is because (allegedly) MHHS systematically discouraged health insurers from adding a competing hospital to their insurance coverage networks, and used its leverage to punish health insurers that established contracts with the competing hospital.
MHHS also has to pay $700,000 to the Texas attorney general. See the AG’s press release and the consent judgment.
Update: MHHS denies having engaged in any of the practices prohibited by the consent decree — see their press release.
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