Lieff Cabraser and co-counsel represent consumer plaintiffs in litigation against HCA Healthcare/Mission Health alleging the hospital giant is abusing its market power to prevent insurers from offering patients financial incentives to use lower cost or higher quality services offered by competitors.

As described in detail in the class action complaint, HCA Healthcare and Mission Health have restricted competition in their respective health care markets, substantially and artificially inflating health care prices paid by plaintiffs and the proposed class member health plans. The lawsuit alleges that Mission Health’s illegal practices have allowed it to reduce competition and keep its reimbursement rates to insurers higher than they otherwise would be, causing patients to pay significantly more for insurance as a result.

On February 21, 2024, U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger of the Western District of North Carolina denied HCA/Mission Health’s motions to dismiss the lawsuit on all fronts. The litigation will now move forward to trial.