Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has re-filed an antitrust lawsuit which claims that two medical practices conspired to reject new Medicaid patients. The suit previously had been tossed out by a judge who held that Madigan's filing didn't support her antitrust allegations. But it seems that the AG is determined not to let this one go.
The re-filed suit contends that by joining together, the actions of Champaign's Christie Clinic and Urbana's Carle Clinic's forced the state to pay doctors more for care by diverting patients into the practices' affiliated emergency departments. In her new complaint, Madigan adds the allegation that Carle president and CEO R. Bruce Wellman initiated the conspiracy because he wanted to make sure Carle didn't capture all of the region's Medicaid business.
To learn more about the ongoing suit:
- read this Modern Healthcare piece [1] (reg. req.)
Related Articles:
IL suit says private clinics diverted poor to EDs. Report [2]
Judge dismisses IL conspiracy suit against MD groups. Report [3]
Illinois doctors fight Medicaid HMO plan. Report [4]
Physicians drop out of new Medicaid plan. Report [5]
Links:
[1] http://www.modernhealthcare.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080220/REG/410585488
[2] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/il-suit-says-private-clinics-diverted-poor-to-eds/2007-06-15
[3] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/judge-dismisses-il-conspiracy-suit-against-md-groups/2008-01-18
[4] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/illinois-doctors-fight-medicaid-hmo-plan/2007-08-23
[5] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/physicians-drop-out-of-new-medicaid-plan/2007-05-10