In resolving a class-action lawsuit, Minnesota health systems Allina Hospitals and Clinics and Fairview Health Services are notifying uninsured patients that they are entitled to a 25% discount on their unpaid bills or credit vouchers for future medical services if they’ve already paid their bills. In February, the Hennepin County District Court ruled that a lawsuit against Fairview and Allina could proceed as a class action for the purpose of settlement. The lawsuit alleged that Allina and Fairview charged uninsured patients an “unreasonable amount in comparison with the amount charged to other payers, such as insurance companies” from February 1999 to August 2005. The two health systems estimate that 200,000 patient accounts may be affected by the settlement, reports the St. Paul Pioneer Press. A hearing to finalize the settlement is scheduled for May 31 in Hennepin County District Court. “We’re pleased to bring closure to this,” Fairview spokesman Ryan Davenport told the Press. “We think it’s the right thing to do for our patients.”
