Blue Cross Blue Shield to Pay $2.8 Billion Antitrust Settlement

Blue Cross Blue Shield agreed Monday to pay $2.8 billion to resolve antitrust claims alleging hospitals, physician groups, and other healthcare providers were shortchanged on reimbursements.

The payment is the largest in a healthcare antitrust case, the healthcare providers say in their motion for preliminary approval. In addition to the funds, the settlement provides for reforms to Blue Cross’s BlueCard program, which is the company’s system of electronic claims processing for providers throughout the US and abroad.

The settlement stems from a 2012 complaint that alleged BlueCross BlueShield’s use of geographic areas to dictate where a health insurance plan ...