Robbing ‘Hood

Lawsuit over Scripps’ billing of uninsured a class action | SDUT | 6.29.07

A San Diego Superior Court judge has granted class-action status to a lawsuit accusing Scripps Health hospitals of charging exorbitant amounts to uninsured patients who often aren’t able to pay the bills without risking financial ruin.

The suit alleges that uninsured Scripps patients pay as much as four times more than patients covered by Medicare or private insurance for the same procedures. Those who don’t pay their bills are sometimes reported to collection agencies that use aggressive tactics to pursue payments and cause damage to patients’ credit, say attorneys for plaintiff Phillip Franklin.

Is this robbing Paul to pay Peter? It seems all the major health systems need to go to court before they “get it.” You can’t cost-shift your competively-reduced-rates onto the uninsured. Public policy, public angst, and the legal system will cure you of that malady.