GOVERNMENTNews in brief - Sept. 4, 2006Mo. physician group loses antitrust case against hospital Mo. physician group loses antitrust case against hospitalA Missouri federal court in August dismissed antitrust allegations brought by a Missouri multispecialty physician practice against a local acute care hospital. Ferguson Medical Group accused Missouri Delta Medical Center of conspiring to eliminate market competition for ancillary medical services and outpatient diagnostic and surgical services in the rural Sikeston area. But the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Southeast Division, concluded that Ferguson had failed to identify a relevant geographic area in which the two facilities competed. Judge Catherine D. Perry also ruled, however, that the medical group could pursue in state court the remaining claims that Missouri Delta had unlawfully terminated call contracts and intentionally induced Ferguson doctors to breach their contracts. Ferguson spokesman and member physician Jimmy Heath, MD, said the group was "disappointed" in the ruling. He said Ferguson was "reviewing all the available options." Missouri Delta President and CEO Charles D. Ancell said, "We hope we can put our differences aside and go back to providing quality health care." Copyright 2006 American Medical Association. All rights reserved. |
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