Ore. hospital chain settles class action suit

The Providence Health system became the first non-profit hospital chain to settle charges that it failed to meet its obligation to provide charity care. The chain said it is has reached an agreement which will see it compensate uninsured patients who paid higher rates for treatment. The settlement is said to impact at least 10,000 low-income patients in Oregon. Mississippi-based attorney Dick Scruggs is involved in similar lawsuits against non-profit hospitals in 27 states. Scruggs gained national attention for his role in winning a billion-dollar award against the tobacco industry in the 1990s.

- see this article from the AP