Peoria Day Surgery Center in Illinois has filed a lawsuit against OSF Healthcare System, alleging that OSF's hospital Saint Francis Medical Center is trying to drive the surgery center out of business so that it can raise prices. Peoria Day Surgery Center wants to block a contract between OSF and insurers UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Illinois. The contract would make St. Francis the exclusive provider of ambulatory care for these health plans' members, which would cause the downfall of the surgery center. Peoria also contends that St. Francis meddled with one of Peoria's health insurance payors. The surgery center wants OSF and St. Francis to stop it's anti-competitive practices and to pay out an unspecified amount in damages.
For more on the lawsuit:
- read this report from the Peoria Journal Star