Data analytics firm MultiPlan and several large insurance companies launched their first legal defense against hospitals and the American Medical Association on Thursday, arguing that an antitrust lawsuit filed by providers should be dismissed because a market for out-of-network services among payers does not exist.
“Managed care organizations/ third-party administrators did not agree to fix prices in plaintiffs’ imaginary out-of-network reimbursement market merely by using common data sources,” according to the motion to dismiss filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
Related: MultiPlan faces price-fixing allegations in another lawsuit
The American Medical Association did not immediately respond to an interview request.
The lawsuit alleges MultiPlan conspired with 700 insurers to set below-market prices for out-of-network providers. It consolidates 27 similar cases brought by systems such as AdventHealth in Roseville, California, Allegiance Health Management in Bossier City, Louisiana, and Community Health Systems in Franklin, Tennessee.
Providers allege MultiPlan and insurers violated the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890, which prohibits monopolies. They want the court to declare MultiPlan’s business with payers is illegal and issue an injunction stopping the technology firm from contracting with insurers.
Along with listing MultiPlan and its subsidiaries as defendants, the lawsuit names CVS Health subsidiary Aetna, Allied National, Aware Integrated, Benefit Plan Administrators, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, Blue Shield of California, CareFirst, Central States Southeast and Southwest Areas Health and Welfare Fund, Cigna, Consociate Health, Elevance Health, Health Alliance, Health Care Service Corp., Highmark Health, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Molina Healthcare, Sanford Health Plan and Secure Health.