A federal antitrust lawsuit filed by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and the U.S. Department of Justice alleges that OhioHealth used contracting practices that limited insurer flexibility and blocked lower-cost health-plan options, a dynamic regulators say contributed to higher premiums for employers and families. The case arrives as HR leaders face sustained pressure from rising benefit costs and fewer plan choices. If successful, the lawsuit could reshape how hospital systems negotiate with insurers and expand more competitive options for employer-sponsored coverage.

“When competition gets boxed out, employers get boxed into higher prices,” said Dave O’Neil, director of communications for the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association. “Manufacturers want transparency and real choice, not contracts that decide winners before the market ever speaks.” 2/24/2026