Business
Minnesota sues hospital system
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Feb. 14, 2005
Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch has filed a lawsuit accusing a hospital system of attempting to monopolize cardiology services in the Twin Cities, the hospital company said.
Allina Hospitals & Clinics, which has 11 hospitals, was served with the lawsuit in late January, said spokeswoman Terri Dresen. She said it accused Allina of violating state antitrust laws by attempting to merge with two independent cardiology groups.
"We are not in discussions to merge in any way, nor are we in any way trying to control the two independent groups," said Dresen.
She said the hospital system had explored a possible merger early last year, then quickly abandoned the plan. "We are confident that we will be able to demonstrate in court that he is wrong about the facts," she said.
A spokeswoman for the attorney general's office did not return a phone message seeking comment.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/02/14/bibf0214.htm.
