A sweeping federal antitrust case against MultiPlan, Inc. and several major payors is moving forward after a significant win for plaintiffs in June. The MultiPlan multidistrict litigation (MDL No. 3121), pending before Judge Matthew F. Kennelly in the Northern District of Illinois, alleges that MultiPlan and other major insurers including Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealth, and Blue Cross Blue Shield conspired to systematically underpay out-of-network health care providers through price-fixing and other anticompetitive practices.

According to the complaints, these payors outsourced rate-setting to MultiPlan, which used proprietary pricing to artificially suppress out-of-network payment rates. By pooling sensitive pricing data and imposing common methodologies and price caps, the defendants allegedly eliminated market competition, depriving physicians of fair payment for services and generating profits from administrative fees tied to the underpayments.

In April 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a Statement of Interest supporting the plaintiffs’ legal theory—underscoring that coordination among competitors through a third-party intermediary can violate antitrust laws. In June, Judge Kennelly denied the defendants’ motion to dismiss, allowing the case to proceed to discovery. Physicians who have received out-of-network payments priced by MultiPlan could be eligible for damages—potentially tripled under federal law—and injunctive relief to end the alleged practices.

The plaintiffs are seeking compensation equal to the difference between actual payments and the fair market value of the services provided. If successful, the case could lead to significant reimbursements for participating providers and drive changes in how out-of-network rates are determined nationwide.

How to Know if You’re Affected

Physicians may not always know whether MultiPlan priced their claims. Clues can often be found in explanations of benefits or remittance advice showing references to “MultiPlan,” “Data iSight,” “Viant,” “NCN,” “ProPricer,” or “MARS.” All such claims—including those negotiated or paid under the No Surprises Act—may be eligible to participate in the MDL.

The California Medical Association is hosting a free webinar on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025 – Navigating the MultiPlan Litigation: What Physician Practices and Facilities Need to Know. Presented by AGG Healthcare Litigation partner Matt Lavin, a member of the Executive Committee for direct-action plaintiffs in the case. Lavin will walk through the origins of the litigation, key legal developments, strategies for joining the case, and why now is the time to act. For more information or to register, click here. This webinar is free to all interested parties.