Plaintiffs v Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Settles Class-Action Autism Lawsuit
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has settled a class-action lawsuit and will pay about 100 families whose children either were denied coverage for autism treatment under Blue Cross policies or paid for their care out pocket.
The settlement, which is estimated to be worth about $1 million, is subject to approval from U.S. District Court Judge Stephen Murphy III in Detroit, said Gerard Mantese with Troy-based Mantese and Rossman P.C.
Blue Cross began offering treatment coverage for children, mostly preschool age, diagnosed with autism, through group policies. The coverage is only available for children ages 2 to 5.
The families will be compensated for their childrens treatment after co-payments and deductibles are satisfied.
The children named in the lawsuit were treated at an autism center operated by William Beaumont Hospitals in Royal Oak.
Mantese said one document obtained during discovery was a draft of a 2005 Blue Cross medical policy.
For those children not named in the class-action lawsuit, Mantese said families should contact him where they can be added to the settlement class.
For more information please contact:
Gerard Mantese
Mantese and Rossman, P.C.
1361 East Big Beaver Road
Troy, MI 48083
Telephone: 248.457.9200
Facsimile: 248.457.9201
http://www.manteselaw.com/offices.htm
