North Carolina Business Court Judge Mark Davis Pauses Deadlines in Mission Hospital Antitrust Lawsuit Amidst Settlement Talks
North Carolina Business Court Judge Mark Davis has issued an order to pause upcoming deadlines in a major antitrust lawsuit against Mission Hospital and its owner, HCA Healthcare. This pause comes after an announcement on September 30 that an 'agreement in principle' has been reached to resolve claims for most parties involved in the lawsuit. The lawsuit, filed in 2021, alleges that Mission Hospital engaged in anticompetitive practices that led to increased healthcare costs in western North Carolina. The plaintiffs, a group of individuals and a business, claim that HCA used Mission's regional monopoly to force insurers into anticompetitive contracts, resulting in higher health insurance costs and lower quality care. While details of the settlement are not yet public, the motion indicated the need for time to finalize the terms of a proposed class-wide settlement agreement.