This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/07/us/sutter-health-antitrust-trial.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
How a Health Trial Care Trial Could Have a Chilling Effect How a Health Care Trial Could Have a Chilling Effect
(about 1 hour later)
Good morning.Good morning.
(Here’s the sign-up, if you don’t already get California Today by email.)
Sutter Health, a sprawling system of 24 hospitals and 5,500 affiliated doctors, faces trial in San Francisco today over accusations that it used its dominance in Northern California to stifle competition and force patients to pay higher medical bills.Sutter Health, a sprawling system of 24 hospitals and 5,500 affiliated doctors, faces trial in San Francisco today over accusations that it used its dominance in Northern California to stifle competition and force patients to pay higher medical bills.
Our colleague Reed Abelson, who covers the business of health care, explains the significance of the case. (Read the full story here.)Our colleague Reed Abelson, who covers the business of health care, explains the significance of the case. (Read the full story here.)
You can expect the courtroom to be standing room only for the Sutter antitrust trial. The case is being brought by the state’s attorney general, Xavier Becerra, along with employers and unions that say they have been harmed by Sutter’s actions.You can expect the courtroom to be standing room only for the Sutter antitrust trial. The case is being brought by the state’s attorney general, Xavier Becerra, along with employers and unions that say they have been harmed by Sutter’s actions.
Because Sutter is able to force health plans to include all of its hospitals and doctors in their networks, patients can’t go elsewhere for care that is cheaper or better quality, Mr. Becerra said. He describes Sutter as showing signs of being a “bully.”Because Sutter is able to force health plans to include all of its hospitals and doctors in their networks, patients can’t go elsewhere for care that is cheaper or better quality, Mr. Becerra said. He describes Sutter as showing signs of being a “bully.”
Sutter’s critics say this leads to much higher prices in Northern California for medical care than in the southern part of the state. Hospital care for a heart attack costs around $25,000 in San Francisco, according to research by the Petris Center at the University of California at Berkeley. It’s closer to $15,000 in parts of Los Angeles.Sutter’s critics say this leads to much higher prices in Northern California for medical care than in the southern part of the state. Hospital care for a heart attack costs around $25,000 in San Francisco, according to research by the Petris Center at the University of California at Berkeley. It’s closer to $15,000 in parts of Los Angeles.
Sutter says that its big system benefits patients and that it does not engage in any behavior that would hurt competition in the market. It says the big insurance companies support the case because they want to limit patients’ choice and increase their own profits.Sutter says that its big system benefits patients and that it does not engage in any behavior that would hurt competition in the market. It says the big insurance companies support the case because they want to limit patients’ choice and increase their own profits.
There’s a lot at stake: Sutter could be liable for more than $2 billion under state law, which can treble the amount of damages awarded.There’s a lot at stake: Sutter could be liable for more than $2 billion under state law, which can treble the amount of damages awarded.
But other big systems, many of which employ similar tactics to prevent insurers from steering patients to other places, are also paying attention to what happens in court. The wave of mergers and acquisitions of physician practices across the country has left many markets with a dominant hospital.But other big systems, many of which employ similar tactics to prevent insurers from steering patients to other places, are also paying attention to what happens in court. The wave of mergers and acquisitions of physician practices across the country has left many markets with a dominant hospital.
If the case doesn’t go in Sutter’s favor, you can expect other big systems to start worrying about their own behavior in making sure insurers don’t send patients outside their hospitals and medical groups. As Leemore Dafny, a former antitrust official and Harvard business professor, said: “It could have a chilling effect on these practices nationwide.”If the case doesn’t go in Sutter’s favor, you can expect other big systems to start worrying about their own behavior in making sure insurers don’t send patients outside their hospitals and medical groups. As Leemore Dafny, a former antitrust official and Harvard business professor, said: “It could have a chilling effect on these practices nationwide.”
We often link to sites that limit access for nonsubscribers. We appreciate your reading Times coverage, but we also encourage you to support local news if you can.We often link to sites that limit access for nonsubscribers. We appreciate your reading Times coverage, but we also encourage you to support local news if you can.
More developments in the Trump impeachment inquiry: House Democrats subpoenaed the White House on Friday after it missed a deadline to voluntarily hand over documents . A second official is weighing whether to file his own whistle-blower complaint on President Trump’s Ukraine dealings. The same legal team for the original whistle-blower is also representing the second. And a newly released set of text messages reveals details about Mr. Trump’s efforts to use U.S. policy to benefit himself. Take a look at what evidence has been collected so far, and catch up on the latest. [The New York Times]More developments in the Trump impeachment inquiry: House Democrats subpoenaed the White House on Friday after it missed a deadline to voluntarily hand over documents . A second official is weighing whether to file his own whistle-blower complaint on President Trump’s Ukraine dealings. The same legal team for the original whistle-blower is also representing the second. And a newly released set of text messages reveals details about Mr. Trump’s efforts to use U.S. policy to benefit himself. Take a look at what evidence has been collected so far, and catch up on the latest. [The New York Times]
Mr. Trump’s re-election campaign was said to be a target of Iranian hackers. It was not clear what information was taken in the cyberattacks. [The New York Times]Mr. Trump’s re-election campaign was said to be a target of Iranian hackers. It was not clear what information was taken in the cyberattacks. [The New York Times]
It was a risky bet made with California confidence: The Kamala Harris campaign did not think Iowa was crucial. Now, as her numbers fall, she is pivoting to the state. [The New York Times]It was a risky bet made with California confidence: The Kamala Harris campaign did not think Iowa was crucial. Now, as her numbers fall, she is pivoting to the state. [The New York Times]
Californians didn’t vote for Mr. Trump, and he’s showing he can govern by grudge, our editorial board writes. [The New York Times Opinion]Californians didn’t vote for Mr. Trump, and he’s showing he can govern by grudge, our editorial board writes. [The New York Times Opinion]
A deadline for wildfire victims to file claims is less than three weeks away. As many as 70,000 Californians who suffered losses linked to PG&E’s equipment could be left out. [The New York Times]A deadline for wildfire victims to file claims is less than three weeks away. As many as 70,000 Californians who suffered losses linked to PG&E’s equipment could be left out. [The New York Times]
Four people were injured after a series of electrical explosions at an Oktoberfest event in Huntington Beach on Saturday. [Long Beach Press-Telegram]Four people were injured after a series of electrical explosions at an Oktoberfest event in Huntington Beach on Saturday. [Long Beach Press-Telegram]
A senior Border Patrol agent from El Centro was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a female colleague. The case, now in pretrial hearings in Tucson, is at the center of a #MeToo moment for the nation’s border-security force. [The New York Times]A senior Border Patrol agent from El Centro was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a female colleague. The case, now in pretrial hearings in Tucson, is at the center of a #MeToo moment for the nation’s border-security force. [The New York Times]
A Marin County lawsuit may test the constitutionality of inclusionary zoning, which local jurisdictions rely on to expand the supply of affordable housing. [CityLab]A Marin County lawsuit may test the constitutionality of inclusionary zoning, which local jurisdictions rely on to expand the supply of affordable housing. [CityLab]
How far will California take criminal-justice reform? [The New Yorker]How far will California take criminal-justice reform? [The New Yorker]
A magnitude-3.9 earthquake struck the Bay Area on Saturday morning. Here’s a refresher on what you need for an earthquake preparedness kit. [Curbed SF]A magnitude-3.9 earthquake struck the Bay Area on Saturday morning. Here’s a refresher on what you need for an earthquake preparedness kit. [Curbed SF]
In memoriam: Diahann Carroll, 84, who transcended racial barriers on “Julia,” the first U.S. TV series about a black professional woman. [The New York Times]In memoriam: Diahann Carroll, 84, who transcended racial barriers on “Julia,” the first U.S. TV series about a black professional woman. [The New York Times]
She joined Elsinore High School’s football team two years ago. During halftime, she was crowned homecoming queen. [The Press-Enterprise]She joined Elsinore High School’s football team two years ago. During halftime, she was crowned homecoming queen. [The Press-Enterprise]
Otis the pug was stolen from his home in San Francisco. Then Otis was found. A homeless man refused the $15,000 reward — because he had found much more than a pug. [Mission Local]Otis the pug was stolen from his home in San Francisco. Then Otis was found. A homeless man refused the $15,000 reward — because he had found much more than a pug. [Mission Local]
San Francisco Fleet Week runs through next Monday.San Francisco Fleet Week runs through next Monday.
Beck and Rage Against the Machine are headlining at the 20th anniversary of the first Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Wednesday.Beck and Rage Against the Machine are headlining at the 20th anniversary of the first Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Wednesday.
Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. is campaigning in California this week, with a stop in Los Angeles on Thursday.Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. is campaigning in California this week, with a stop in Los Angeles on Thursday.
L.A. Comic Con kicks off on Friday.L.A. Comic Con kicks off on Friday.
She sent dispatches from the front lines of ’70s-era West Coast bohemia, satirizing the incestuous music and art worlds in Los Angeles. Eve Babitz was known for being Hollywood royalty, and she seemed to be having more fun than Joan Didion.She sent dispatches from the front lines of ’70s-era West Coast bohemia, satirizing the incestuous music and art worlds in Los Angeles. Eve Babitz was known for being Hollywood royalty, and she seemed to be having more fun than Joan Didion.
Ms. Babitz faded from public view after a 1997 accident that led to her becoming a recluse and a misanthrope. She may not have received her professional due, but there has been a steady renaissance of her work in the last decade, as a new generation of women finds solace in her words.Ms. Babitz faded from public view after a 1997 accident that led to her becoming a recluse and a misanthrope. She may not have received her professional due, but there has been a steady renaissance of her work in the last decade, as a new generation of women finds solace in her words.
And now New York Review Book Classics is publishing a collection of her magazine articles. “I Used to Be Charming: The Rest of Eve Babitz” is out tomorrow.And now New York Review Book Classics is publishing a collection of her magazine articles. “I Used to Be Charming: The Rest of Eve Babitz” is out tomorrow.
Read the full story here.Read the full story here.
California Today goes live at 6:30 a.m. Pacific time weekdays. Tell us what you want to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com. Were you forwarded this email? Sign up for California Today here.California Today goes live at 6:30 a.m. Pacific time weekdays. Tell us what you want to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com. Were you forwarded this email? Sign up for California Today here.
California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from U.C. Berkeley.California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from U.C. Berkeley.