A state court in Arkansas has issued an injunction stopping a state health system from enforcing a policy denying privileges to physicians who hold an ownership interest in competing hospitals.
The case arises from a dispute between Little Rock Cardiology Clinic physicians and Baptist Health, a five-hospital health system. The cardiology clinic had argued that the Baptist Health policy illegally acted to restrict the business of Little Rock-based Arkansas Heart Hospital.
The decision follows a September 2008 federal judge's decision in an antitrust case filed by Baptist against the Clinic. The federal judges said the patient-physician relationship was "entitled to exceptional protection," concluding that Baptist Health suffered no harm from the opening of Arkansas Heart.
To find out more about the story:
- read this Modern Healthcare piece [1] (reg. req.)
Links:
[1] http://www.modernhealthcare.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090227/REG/302279962/-1/TODAYSNEWS