class action suit news from FierceHealthcare
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NY hospital system settles suit over nurses' wages
Part of HCA staffing class-action lawsuit reinstated
St. Louis hospitals give uninsured discounts
ALSO NOTED: Physician shortage in Silicon Valley; Catholic Healthcare East takes over NJ health system; and much more...
CA court says retroactive policy cancellations "prohibited"
MN health systems pay back uninsured patients
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 …
... Read more...ALSO NOTED: Charlotte, NC-area merger partners still foggy; CO mental health bill slammed; and much more...
> Despite making a commitment to move ahead, participants in a planned merger between Charlotte, NC-area health systems remain foggy on how things will work. Article
> A new Colorado bill which would mandate expanded mental health benefit coverage is taking some nasty shots from business groups, who say some mental health treatments are ineffective or even …
... Read more...KS doctors' suit against insurers moves ahead
A class action suit by more than 2,200 doctors, targeting Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, Humana, United Healthcare and other defendants, will proceed through the court system rather than being shunted into arbitration. The physicians sued the health insurers in February 2005, arguing that the health plans were violating antitrust laws by, among other actions, collectively fixing prices and refusing to negotiate reasonable reimbursement rates. Contracts for most of the doctors …
... Read more...Horizon BCBS settles with MDs
New Jersey's Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield health plan, which insures 3.2 million consumers, has settled a class action suit claiming its reimbursement practices had treated thousands of doctors unfairly. The suit, which was filed in 2002 on behalf of about 40,000 of the state's physicians, contended that the HMO--along with United Healthcare and Cigna Healthcare--was paying doctors late and reducing payments unfairly. In settling the suit, which doesn't involve a payout by the health …
... Read more...Catholic Healthcare uninsureds get 35% refund
Uninsured patients seen by Catholic Healthcare West hospitals from July 1, 2001, through September 25, 2006 are now entitled to a 35 percent discount or refund on their bill, following a ruling amending an existing class-action suit. In May, CHW had reached an agreement on the suit, which alleged that it engaged in price gouging of uninsured patients, but the new ruling restructured the payout to ensure that all affected patients received the same benefits. CHW will pay out …
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