Two class action lawsuits alleging that two South Dakota hospitals charged uninsured patients excessive prices are before the South Dakota Supreme Court for reinstatement after being dismissed by a circuit court judge, reports the Sioux City Journal. At issue are charges for intestinal surgery at Sioux Valley Hospitals and Health System and for a broken hip at Avera Health. A lawyer for the two patients says that charges must be reasonable according to law--not two to three times higher than insured patients pay--and, as charitable institutions, the hospitals should bill what patients are able to pay. Sioux Valley said the patient was charged the standard rate, that the hospital lists prices for its procedures on its web site, and that the patient could have asked for a charity care discount. Justice Steven Zinter told the Journal that he believes patients should be able to challenge excessive hospital charges under the law.
