An Indiana Supreme Court case involving Indiana University Health in Indianapolis could open the floodgates for patients to sue over hospital bills from up to 10 years ago, according to an Indianapolis Star report.
Two uninsured patients sued IU Health, claiming the system charged them more than insured patients would have paid for the same treatment. If the court rules against IU Health, it could open the system to multi-million dollar class-action claims from uninsured patients who received care at IU within the past decade.
The case's trial lawyer, Scott Weathers, has explicitly said he intends to turn the lawsuit into a class action — against IU Health and other hospitals in the area as well.
IU Health's attorneys have said hospital billing disputes don't belong in the courts, since unique circumstances of hospitals make it nearly impossible for courts to determine the "reasonable" costs of hospital services.
The president of the Indiana Hospital Association, Doug Leonard, has said the case is "a pretty concerning situation" for hospitals.
The case is slated for argument May 10.
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Two uninsured patients sued IU Health, claiming the system charged them more than insured patients would have paid for the same treatment. If the court rules against IU Health, it could open the system to multi-million dollar class-action claims from uninsured patients who received care at IU within the past decade.
The case's trial lawyer, Scott Weathers, has explicitly said he intends to turn the lawsuit into a class action — against IU Health and other hospitals in the area as well.
IU Health's attorneys have said hospital billing disputes don't belong in the courts, since unique circumstances of hospitals make it nearly impossible for courts to determine the "reasonable" costs of hospital services.
The president of the Indiana Hospital Association, Doug Leonard, has said the case is "a pretty concerning situation" for hospitals.
The case is slated for argument May 10.
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