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MN health systems pay back uninsured patients

March 18, 2007 — 8:01pm ET
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Minneapolis, MN-based Allina Hospitals & Clinics and Fairview Health Services have settled a 2004 class action suit alleging that the two systems overcharged uninsured patients. Under the terms of the settlement, Allina and Fairview have agreed to discount the outstanding balances of uninsured patients who were seen between early February 1999 and August 2005 by 25 percent. If the patient has paid in more than 75 percent, the systems will give the patient a voucher for credit against future balances. Since 2001, Allina has offered free care for patients with incomes lower than 275 percent of the federal poverty level. Not long after it was sued, Allina began providing a minimum 20 percent discount on hospital bills for uninsured patients.

To learn more about the settlement:
- read this Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal article

Related Articles:
Legacy Health settles improper billing suit. Report
Catholic Healthcare West uninsures get 35 percent refund. Report

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By Anonymous | Posted 12:45pm | April 6, 2007

we were one of the many people who were over charged by fairview.
I am very angry that they ae allowed to pay with a voucher.. We overpaid in cash, not vouchers. We do not make a practice of visiting the hospital & clinic and we are so upset with the way we have been treated by the business office in Minneapolis that we will go to another clinic when and if we need health care. I was told by one of the women in the business office that I would have to "get a job". This was after I asked for lower payments because we were a single income family and I had always been a stay at home mom.

By Anonymous | Posted 12:47pm | April 6, 2007

1. Anonymous (not verified):

we were one of the many people who were over charged by fairview.
I am very angry that they ae allowed to pay with a voucher.. We overpaid in cash, not vouchers. We do not make a practice of visiting the hospital & clinic and we are so upset with the way we have been treated by the business office in Minneapolis that we will go to another clinic when and if we need health care. I was told by one of the women in the business office that I would have to "get a job". This was after I asked for lower payments because we were a single income family and I had always been a stay at home mom.

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