Section 3727.21. Hospitals may conduct discussions or negotiations concerning allocation of equipment or services

(A) Acting through their boards of directors or boards of trustees, a group of hospitals may conduct discussions or negotiations concerning the allocation of health care equipment or health care services, provided that the discussions or negotiations do not involve price-fixing or predatory pricing and are designed to achieve one or more of the following goals:

(1) Reducing health care costs for consumers;

(2) Improving access to health care services;

(3) Improving the quality of patient care.

Directors or trustees who participate in the discussions or negotiations authorized by this division and the hospitals they represent are immune from civil enforcement action and criminal prosecution for violations of Chapter 1331. of the Revised Code that might otherwise result from the discussions or negotiations.

(B) Directors or trustees who participate in discussions or negotiations that exceed the scope of discussions or negotiations authorized by division (A) of this section and the hospitals they represent are not immune from civil enforcement or criminal prosecution for violations of Chapter 1331. of the Revised Code that may result from such discussions or negotiations.

Effective Date: 10-08-1992