WASHINGTON / NEW YORK, March 26, 2026 — The U.S. government has filed an antitrust lawsuit against NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, accusing the hospital system of using restrictive contracts with insurers to limit competition and raise healthcare costs.
The case was brought by the United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division together with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
According to the complaint, the hospital system violated Sherman Antitrust Act Section 1 by imposing contractual restrictions that prevent insurers and employers from offering lower-cost health plans that exclude the hospital system or place it in a less favorable tier.
Prosecutors allege that the restrictions also prohibit insurers from offering lower copayments for patients who choose competing hospitals, limiting rivals’ ability to compete on price or value.
The DOJ said the practices block the development of “budget-conscious” insurance plans that could reduce healthcare costs for New Yorkers. The lawsuit seeks a court order banning the restrictions.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi said the alleged practices force millions of New Yorkers to pay more for healthcare, while Acting Assistant Attorney General Omeed A. Assefi said the department will continue pursuing hospitals that use market power to restrict competition.
The case marks the second healthcare competition lawsuit brought by the DOJ’s antitrust division this year.
