Hartford Healthcare Corp. lost its bid to end antitrust litigation over claims it sought to crush a regional rival by buying out leading medical practices and bullying doctors into exclusive referral agreements.
Judge Sarala V. Nagala let the case move forward Monday, saying it’s plausible Hartford Health exploited its status as the largest hospital system in central Connecticut—which makes it a must-have for insurance networks—to avoid competing on price or quality.
The lawsuit was filed in early 2022 by St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center Inc., a Trinity Health of New England affiliate that claims it’s the only health facility ...