On March 5, dozens of major U.S. hospital systems and healthcare providers filed lawsuits against Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) and its affiliates, accusing the insurance giant of underpaying them by billions of dollars — escalating an already massive legal battle over alleged antitrust violations.
The lawsuits, filed in federal courts in California, Illinois, and Pennsylvania, come as these providers formally opted out of a $2.8 billion class-action settlement currently awaiting final approval in federal court in Alabama.