The cornerstone of health information is to share and exchange data among providers, health plans, and other entities, in order to raise quality and lower health care costs.  Doing so raises antitrust concerns about what is or is not permissible under federal antitrust laws.1  Antitrust law governs the sharing of information across integrated and nonintegrated entities, and whether such activities restrain trade.2

        The state of Tennessee does not restrict the flow of information between providers as it relates to patient care coordination, but the state only has one law that addresses antitrust concerns.  Hospitals and groups of hospitals are prohibited from negotiating terms, prices and reimbursement rates with health maintenance organizations, insurers and preferred provider organizations unless authorized by law; Tennessee case law suggests that such prohibition is not considered a restraint of trade.3