Originally published July 8 2005
Three Wisconsin health care systems accused of price gouging
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Suits filed in Wisconsin allege that Covenant Healthcare System, Aurora Healthcare and Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital are part of a nationally-coordinated effort to overcharge patients.
Class action lawsuits have been filed against three not-for-profit Wisconsin health care systems, accusing them of price-gouging their uninsured patients.
The suits filed Tuesday in Milwaukee County Circuit Court allege that Covenant Healthcare System, Aurora Healthcare and Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital are part of a nationally coordinated effort which so far includes 46 similar lawsuits in 22 states.
The three systems are accused of systematically overcharging uninsured patients and offering those with insurance, or covered by Medicare and Medicaid, special discounted rates for which uninsured patients did not have the opportunity to bargain.
"The size of a medical bill at the defendants' facilities changed drastically depending upon who was paying the bill," the lawsuit against Froedtert contends.
It was filed for Michele MacMillan of West Bend by Milwaukee attorney Willard Techmeier, who said he got involved with the national effort directed by Mississippi attorney Richard Scruggs while representing MacMillan after an auto accident and trying to negotiate lower bills with Froedtert on her behalf.
"We work closely with patients to assure that they understand all programs that may be available to assist them," Froedtert spokeswoman Carolyn Bellin said in a statement.
"We are aware that these lawsuits are being filed across the nation.
Aurora spokesman Jeff Squire said in a statement that his firm had provided more than $140 million in charity care during the last two years, and "any suggestion that Aurora deals unfairly with the uninsured is outrageous."
Scruggs' Oxford, Miss., law firm and 10 others began the series of suits nationally in federal court last year, but the suits now pending are in state courts, Techmeier said.
Scruggs won a multibillion-dollar settlement in class action litigation against the tobacco industry in 1998.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml