Chicago Hospital Group Settles Class Action Lawsuit That Claimed Uninsured Patients Were Overcharged

Cook County, Ill., Circuit Judge Sophia Hall on Wednesday approved a settlement in a class-action lawsuit against Advocate Health Care that claimed the not-for-profit overcharged uninsured patients for services provided, the AP/Chicago Tribune reports. Advocate, the largest provider of medical care in the Chicago area, will repay as much as $3.5 million to patients treated at eight Chicago and suburban hospitals under the deal. The agreement applies Advocate's existing policies for charity care retroactively to patients who were treated at its facilities between Nov. 1, 2000, and Dec. 31, 2008.

Notices about the settlement previously were sent by Advocate to about 170,000 former patients, but forms now will be mailed to 40,000 of those patients who the firm believes will be eligible for payments under the agreement, Advocate spokesperson Kelly Jo Golson said. The firm also has hired an ombudsperson to help enroll patients who qualify for charity care, according to the AP/Tribune.

Patient attorney Robert Cohen said, "We hope [the agreement] will serve as a model for other hospitals to follow in providing charitable care to uninsured patients" (AP/Chicago Tribune, 2/25).