Connecticut Attorney General William Tong reached an agreement with Northwell Health and Nuvance Health to resolve an antitrust investigation into their proposed affiliation. The agreement preserves labor and delivery services at Sharon Hospital and strengthens healthcare access in Western Connecticut. Northwell committed to maintaining women's health services, investing in IT and cybersecurity, and complying with Connecticut's anti-steering statute for five years.
Northwell Health must preserve and expand women's health services at Sharon Hospital, commit resources to unify electronic medical records and enhance data security, negotiate reimbursement rates independently for Connecticut and New York facilities, and comply with Connecticut's statute prohibiting anti-steering and anti-tiering clauses in network agreements for five years.
In-house legal teams should review all agreements related to healthcare affiliations, mergers, or service contracts, particularly those involving hospital systems or provider networks. Focus on clauses governing service preservation (especially labor and delivery and women's health services), anti-steering compliance, market competition safeguards, and commitments to IT/cybersecurity investments. Changes may be needed to incorporate enforceable five-year conditions, monitoring mechanisms, and penalties for non-compliance, ensuring that vendor, customer, and partnership agreements do not conflict with the mandated service maintenance and anti-steering requirements under Connecticut law.
Entity
Northwell Health, Inc. and Northwell Healthcare, Inc. (collectively “Northwell”) and Nuvance Health
Also known as: Northwell Health and Nuvance Health
Industry
HealthcareOfficial Press Release
https://portal.ct.gov/ag/press-releases/2024-press-releases/attorney-general-tong-reaches-agreement-with-northwell-health-and-nuvance-health
agreement of assurances northwell nuvance.pdf?rev=af389c9ec7
https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/ag/press_releases/2024/agreement-of-assurances---northwell-nuvance.pdf?rev=af389c9ec765455c809182d50f894c49&hash=496477B29197E804048A8918E9D93CA1
Connecticut Attorney General Enforcement Page
https://portal.ct.gov/AG/Privacy/Privacy-Resources
$500K
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong announced settlements with SunRun, Inc., Elevate Solar Solutions, and two salespeople over allegations of deceptive solar sales, including impersonating consumers and locking homeowners into long-term contracts without consent. SunRun must pay $300,000 and provide consumer relief; Elevate and the salespeople face a stated $200,000 penalty, with $100,000 suspended subject to ongoing compliance.
$8.0M
Connecticut announced an $8 million settlement with Mylan over allegations that it used agreements to delay generic EpiPen competitors and took other actions that inflated prices. Mylan also agreed to provide 10,000 free EpiPens; the release states that Mylan denies wrongdoing.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of 22 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief challenging DHS’s policy and practice of conducting warrantless civil immigration arrests. The press release describes a court challenge, not a privacy enforcement action or monetary penalty.
$625K
Connecticut reached a $625,000 settlement with Frontier Communications Parent Inc. over an April 2024 breach in which compromised employee and vendor credentials were used to access internal systems and exfiltrate unencrypted personal information of 58,841 Connecticut residents. The settlement requires Frontier to strengthen its security program, implement specific safeguards and training, and obtain an independent third-party assessment.
$2.6M
Connecticut and New York found that Boston Children’s Health Physicians and its security vendor, XTIUM, failed to use reasonable safeguards, resulting in hackers accessing sensitive personal, medical, and employee information. The companies agreed to pay penalties totaling $2.64 million and implement enhanced cybersecurity measures.
Connecticut joined a coalition of state attorneys general filing a notice in Character Technologies, Inc.’s bankruptcy proceedings, raising concerns about the company’s safety and privacy practices and the sensitive information it holds. The states seek protections for children and consumers if the company’s business or assets are sold or transferred; the filing does not impose a fine or other remedy.