Attorney General Roy Cooper has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Carolinas HealthCare System. Cooper is seeking more competition to lower health care costs.
Cooper claims, Charlotte consumers face higher health care costs with fewer choices because of efforts to decrease competition made by Carolinas HealthCare System.
Carolinas HealthCare System is based in Charlotte and operates 10 hospitals in the area with an annual revenue of about $8.7 billion.
The lawsuit filed Thursday on behalf of the State of North Carolina and jointly with the US Department of Justice, claims that Carolinas HealthCare System acted unlawfully in order to keep their dominance in the Charlotte health care market. The lawsuit also claims that the company blocks consumers from receiving information about the costs and quality of their service.
βWe tell consumers to shop around for the best quality and price, and health care should be no different. Competition is good for business and good for customers, including in the health care industry,βsaid Cooper.
Carolinas HealthCare System has not released a statement at this time.
