July 30, 2026
(Columbus, OH)—The Ohio Nurses Association has asked the United States Department of Justice to review both OhioHealth’s decision to eliminate the maternity unit at Grady Memorial Hospital in Delaware County and the larger issue of the negative impact OhioHealth’s market share has on central Ohioans’ access to healthcare services.
“OhioHealth has grown in size and power to the extent that it is able to manipulate the healthcare market in ways that greatly harm central Ohioans’ access to healthcare services,” said ONA President Rick Lucas, RN. “As it is doing with the maternity unit at Grady Memorial Hospital, OhioHealth takes over rural hospitals, starves them of resources, eliminates critical services, and leaves healthcare deserts in its wake. This has to stop. And the problem is so widespread and serious that we need the intervention of the U.S. Department of Justice.”
DOJ’s Antitrust Division recently ordered OhioHealth to cease its use of anticompetitive healthcare contract terms that raise costs for Ohio patients. ONA’s request to DOJ was submitted as part of the public comment period associated with the proposed settlement in this case.
The letter ONA sent to the U.S. DOJ can be found here.
The Ohio Nurses Association is Ohio’s professional union for nurses and health professionals, dedicated to uniting and empowering nurses and healthcare workers, championing their rights, promoting professional practice, and advocating for quality care for all patients in Ohio.
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