Hartford health giant Aetna Inc. is suing rival Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, alleging antitrust violations involving anticompetitive agreements with hospitals in the state, according to published reports.
Michigan Blue Cross also is fighting a separate Justice Department antitrust suit, filed in October 2010, The Wall Street Journal reports.
The new Aetna suit alleges Blue Cross paid hospitals more money if they agreed to boost to higher levels the rates they charged other health plans, The Journal reports.
According to Bloomberg News, Aetna claims in its suit that starting in 2005, it made an “enormous” investment to expand its business in Michigan, including acquiring HMS Healthcare for about $390 million.
Aetna accuses Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan of violating U.S. antitrust law and it seeks three times the amount of damages it sustained.
