In This Issue:

- LEGISLATION PERMITTING HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS TO NEGOTIATE JOINTLY WITH HEALTH INSURERS INTRODUCED IN CONGRESS:

Legislation was recently introduced by Representative John Conyers (D. Michigan) that would permit healthcare providers to negotiate jointly with health insurers concerning contract terms without running afoul of the antitrust laws. The bill, the “Quality Health Care Coalition Act of 2014,” (H.R. 4077), has been referred to the House Judiciary’s Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law for further action....

- AETNA TERMINATES ITS PROPOSED “INGENIX” CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT:

On March 13, Aetna announced that it would not finalize its proposed settlement of In re Aetna UCR Litigation, a class action proceeding in the District of New Jersey that focused on Aetna’s use of a database of “usual and customary” reimbursement rates that plaintiffs alleged had improperly lowered member reimbursements for out of network claims.

- INSURANCE AGENT’S ANTITRUST CLAIMS AGAINST FORMER EMPLOYER DISMISSED:

On April 10, United States District Court Judge Michael Baylson (S.D.N.Y.) dismissed antitrust claims brought by a former AXA Equitable Life Insurance agent against AXA, holding that AXA’s refusal to permit plaintiff to continue to sell AXA products through his new employer, an independent broker dealer, did not state a claim under the antitrust laws....

- INDIANA AUTO REPAIR SHOPS BRING ANTITRUST ACTION AGAINST AUTO INSURERS:

An Indiana trade association of auto repair shops, together with a group of its members, have filed an antitrust action against over twenty five auto insurers in Indiana, alleging that the insurers’ direct repair programs violate the antitrust laws by artificially depressing repair rates for the services plaintiffs offer and by “steering” insureds away from plaintiffs’ businesses....