Blue Cross Takes Rare Loss on Monopoly Claim With Trial Pending

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island is facing a jury trial on claims it shut a hospital out of its network and quit reimbursing for care there to thwart a competing insurer that was slated to buy the hospital.

U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island Judge William E. Smith’s April 23 opinion denied Blue Cross’s summary judgment motion on all 18 counts, all of which will be tried to a jury.

Smith’s opinion is a 180-degree turnaround from what was expected based on a notice he issued in November. In that earlier notice, Smith said he ...