Patients v Providence Health System
Providence Health System Sued by Uninsured Patients Who Complain of Over-Charging
A class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of uninsured patients who received and were billed for medical care by any hospital within the Oregon based Providence Health Systems network of hospitals. The suit contends that Providence billed its uninsured patients at rates far in excess of the rates employed for insured patients and that this practice was and is both discriminatory and illegal.
The complaint further states that Providence enjoys non profit status and the associated tax benefits but in fact is highly profitable and paid its CEO over 1.4 million dollars in 2003.
Plaintiffs seek financial damages and injunctive relief from Providence, including the placement of all assets accrued using unfair and deceptive practices into a constructive trust for the benefit of the plaintiff. These assets are alleged to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
