U.S. Department of Justice announces antitrust settlements

By the Editorial Team · Monday, July 27, 2026

The U.S. Department of Justice proposed settlements with Edwards LifeSciences and Genesis Medtech over an unlawful acquisition affecting the TAVR-AR device market, and with OhioHealth Corporation for contract terms that limited insurer offerings of budget-friendly health plans. These agreements impose penalties, require changes to business practices, and aim to restore competitive conditions in healthcare markets.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced two proposed settlements in antitrust cases involving Edwards LifeSciences Corp., Genesis Medtech Group Limited, and OhioHealth Corporation.

In the first case, filed on July 13, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the Justice Department alleged that Edwards LifeSciences’ acquisition of JC Medical, Inc. from Genesis Medtech violated the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act. According to the complaint, the transaction raised competitive concerns related to the market for transcatheter aortic valve replacement devices for aortic regurgitation (TAVR-AR).

Under the proposed Final Judgment, Edwards must pay a $10 million civil penalty, implement an antitrust compliance program, and notify the Federal Trade Commission before pursuing future acquisitions involving firms engaged in the U.S. TAVR-AR device market or clinical trials. Genesis also faces a $2 million civil penalty. The settlement aims to address potential harms to competition and provides remedies for private litigants who might have been injured by the alleged violation.

Separately, in a case filed earlier this year in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, the Justice Department challenged contract provisions used by OhioHealth Corporation that allegedly restricted insurers’ ability to offer budget-sensitive health plans. The complaint, filed February 20, cited violations of Section 1 of the Sherman Act.

The proposed settlement, submitted on June 16, requires OhioHealth to remove existing contract clauses that prohibit or discourage insurers from providing consumer-friendly health insurance options. It also bars the health system from including similar restrictions in future contracts.

In both matters, the Justice Department has made available the complaints, proposed final judgments, and Competitive Impact Statements on its Antitrust Division website, inviting public comments within 60 days. Comments will be reviewed, posted online, and may be included in federal records.

These actions are part of the Department’s broader efforts to enforce antitrust laws and promote competition in healthcare markets.

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