Federal and State Officials Initiate Lawsuit on Feb 20, 2026 The U.S. Department of Justice and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio on Feb 20, 2026, accusing OhioHealth of anticompetitive conduct that harms patients and employers [1]. The filing alleges the health system leverages its size to limit competition across central Ohio [1]. OhioHealth said it has not been served with the complaint and declined to comment while the case proceeds [1].

Complaint Accuses OhioHealth of Market Dominance and Price Inflation The suit claims OhioHealth controls roughly 40% of the regional hospital market and negotiates prices about 50% higher than competing providers [1]. It alleges the system forces insurers to keep OhioHealth in every commercial network, blocking lower‑priced alternatives [1]. Contractual clauses dating back to 2003 are said to prevent insurers from offering cheaper plans, inflating premiums and out‑of‑pocket costs for patients [1].

OhioHealth Network Spans 17 Hospitals Competing With Major Systems OhioHealth operates 16 hospitals in central Ohio and one additional facility, totaling 17 hospitals [1]. Its competitors include Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and the Mount Carmel Health System, owned by Trinity Health [1]. The antitrust allegations target how this network allegedly suppresses competition from these academic and Catholic health systems [1].

Potential Impact on Patients and Employers Highlighted The complaint warns that the restrictive contracts have deprived patients of cheaper insurance options since at least 2003 [1]. By inflating provider prices, the alleged practices raise health‑care premiums for employers and increase out‑of‑pocket expenses for individuals [1]. The lawsuit seeks to dismantle these practices to restore market competition and lower costs [1].