Texas' Harris County Hospital District is facing allegations that it withheld services from indigent patients and charged co-payments for medical services and prescriptions before evaluating a patient's ability to pay, according to a Houston Chronicle report.
The lawsuit was filed by lawyers representing five plaintiffs. All five claim that, within the past two years, they were denied treatment at county health centers and pharmacies, but not emergency departments, due to their inability to pay. The district includes five hospitals and numerous clinics throughout Harris County, which includes Houston.
The suit seeks a permanent injunction to stop the hospital district from denying or reducing care to eligible residents who can't cover the costs of their care. It also seeks to mandate signage within district facilities that has information "regarding voluntary contributions towards the costs of assistance," according to the report.
A spokesperson for Harris County Hospital District declined to comment about pending litigation.
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The lawsuit was filed by lawyers representing five plaintiffs. All five claim that, within the past two years, they were denied treatment at county health centers and pharmacies, but not emergency departments, due to their inability to pay. The district includes five hospitals and numerous clinics throughout Harris County, which includes Houston.
The suit seeks a permanent injunction to stop the hospital district from denying or reducing care to eligible residents who can't cover the costs of their care. It also seeks to mandate signage within district facilities that has information "regarding voluntary contributions towards the costs of assistance," according to the report.
A spokesperson for Harris County Hospital District declined to comment about pending litigation.
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