The actual issue of the case is that healthcare providers have been consolidating for a number of years, so much so that in the northeast is very rare to find i

The actual issue of the case is that healthcare providers have been consolidating for a number of years, so much so that in the northeast is very rare to find independent providers. Small doctor practices are now usually part of a larger provider instead of being independent. The small practice gets to hand of administration of billing issues and gets much better rates from insurers. Hospitals get more referrals. In some areas, you end up with 1 or 2 providers so insurance companies have no choice but to pay high prices and pass those on to consumers.