Attorney General Becerra Secures Early Victory in Protecting Patients and Competition Against Over-Consolidation in Sutter Health Lawsuit

SACRAMENTO – On March 14, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra secured an important, early legal victory in UEBT and the State of California et al. v. Sutter. The Superior Court of San Francisco denied Sutter’s motion to eliminate claims alleging price tampering and combination to monopolize. Sutter Health is the largest hospital system in Northern California. 

“Yesterday’s court ruling is a giant step in the right direction,” said Attorney General Becerra. “Hospitals that participate in anticompetitive practices to the detriment of their patients must be held accountable.”

Sutter Health consists of at least 24 acute care hospital facilities, 31 ambulatory surgery centers, nine cancer centers, six specialty care centers, nine major physician organizations, 8,200 physicians and 48,000 employees located in 19 counties in Northern California. Attorney General Becerra filed his lawsuit against Sutter Health in March 2018. The complaint alleges that Sutter engages in anticompetitive practices that result in higher healthcare costs for Northern Californians. The lawsuit aims to stop Sutter Health from unlawful conduct under state antitrust laws and restore competition in the California healthcare market.

A copy of the order can be found here.