Government
Judge throws out antitrust case against Illinois medical groups
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Feb. 11, 2008
An Illinois judge tossed out the state attorney general's antitrust lawsuit against two private medical clinics for allegedly refusing to take new Medicaid patients to force higher reimbursement rates. The court said Attorney General Lisa Madigan did not have enough evidence to establish her claim that Carle Clinic Assn. and Christie Clinic collectively boycotted new Medicaid patients, forcing them to get more expensive care in emergency departments at the state's expense. The two groups employ more than 90% of physicians in the Champaign County area.
Despite the setback, Madigan plans to refile the case, a spokeswoman for the attorney general said. The Carle and Christie clinics deny the allegations and said they are encouraged by the recent ruling. The medical groups said they made legal, independent decisions to curb their services after significant state reimbursement cuts that began in 2002.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/02/11/gvbf0211.htm.
