The lawsuits allege that the organizations charged uninsured patients unreasonable rates for the medical services and failed to provide appropriate financial aid.
Under the settlement, Resurrection has said that "uninsured patients who received medically necessary services at a Resurrection hospital during the period from Sept. 16, 2001 to Sept. 19, 2008, will be eligible to have their outstanding bill recalculated," according to the organization’s news release. "Refunds will be provided to anyone who made payments on a bill that would have been less had the current policy been in effect at the original time of service. Refunds will generally be in the form of vouchers for future medical services at a Resurrection hospital facility and will only apply to those who actually made payments on hospital bills of $500 or more."
Resurrection will also offer a 25 percent discount to the uninsured without consideration of income level, and has expanded the discounts available to the uninsured, according to the Chicago Tribune report.
Advocate Health Care has similar offers to recalculate bills and provide refunds to needy patients, according to the report. The organization has not announced any changes to its policies; Advocate currently offers free or discounted care to the uninsured.
Read the Resurrection Health Care news release about the Resurrection uninsured lawsuit settlement.
Read the Chicago Tribune report about the Resurrection and Advocate lawsuit settlement.
