price-fixing

The company is "alleging a price fixing scheme for beef specifically" and has filed a federal complaint in New York that "accused the companies of anticompetitive measures such as collectively limiting supply to boost prices and charge 'illegally inflated amounts,'" according to the publication.

Recent revelations about a data analytics firm’s role in determining medical payments have heightened concerns about possible price fixing in health care and led to a call for a federal investigation.

In interviews, Ms. Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota, and experts in antitrust law said this arrangement could amount to price fixing: Rather than competing to offer better coverage, insurers could use the low prices recommended by MultiPlan’s algorithms, knowing their competitors would likely do the same.

Price fixing removes competition from the market and generally makes goods and services more expensive.

The agency has argued in court filings that price fixing “is still illegal even if you are achieving it through an algorithm,” Khan said.