Downers Grove, Ill.-based Advocate Health Care has filed a lawsuit to block Palos Heights, Ill.-based Palos Community Hospital from gaining access to Advocate's trade secrets.
As part of a pending 2013 lawsuit against Advocate and Humana, Palos has requested the managed care agreements held by all 12 Advocate hospitals for a six-year period.
In response, Advocate filed a lawsuit April 11, claiming it was wrongfully sued and should not have to hand over the requested information, including methods for collecting reimbursements from third-party payers and payment rates, according to a Cook County Record report.
"Palos should have never been in a position to request Advocates rate information in discovery…and it is so highly confidential and so valuable as trade secrets that any compelled disclosure would irreparably harm Advocate," the complaint states.
Advocate is requesting an inunction against Palos to prevent it from gaining access to the information.
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