The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Manhattan, alleges the hospital system used anticompetitive contracts with major health insurance companies to stifle competition and maintain high prices.
The DOJ's complaint, filed on March 26, 2026, specifically targets contractual provisions that prevented insurers from steering patients to lower-cost, higher-quality competing hospitals and providers. The government argues these practices harmed employers, patients, and other insurers by reducing choice and inflating healthcare costs in the New York metropolitan area.
"NewYork-Presbyterian’s anticompetitive conduct has forced patients to pay more for healthcare services and deprived them of the benefits of competition," said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Doha Mekki of the DOJ’s Antitrust Division in a statement. The lawsuit seeks to end the alleged practices and restore competition in the market.
In a statement, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital said it believes its contracts are lawful and beneficial, and it intends to vigorously defend against the lawsuit. The case highlights ongoing federal scrutiny of consolidation and contracting practices in the healthcare industry.
