Frankel & Cohen settle landmark class action providing free and discounted health care for uninsured patients!
Frankel & Cohen and the law firm of Despres, Schwartz & Geoghegan, have settled the landmark class action case of Cristiani v. Advocate Health Care Network. Frankel & Cohen and Despres Schwartz & Geoghegan filed a class action lawsuit challenging the billing practices of Advocate health Care Network and Advocate Health and Hospitals Corporation (collectively "Advocate Hospitals").
In summary, plaintiffs alleged that Advocate overcharged uninsured and underinsured patients who should have received free or discounted charity care or otherwise discounted bills.
After several years of litigation and settlement negotiations, plaintiffs and Advocate Hospitals reached a settlement agreement. The settlement agreement was given preliminary approval by Judge Sophia Hall on October 29, 2008.
The Settlement may benefit class members in two primary ways:
(1) Class members may be eligible for free or reduced-price health care ("Charity Care") at an Advocate Hospital for unpaid past bills or future bills.
(2) Class members may get money back on past Advocate Hospital bills for treatment received between November 19, 2000 and December 31, 2004, if they paid Advocate Hospital all or part of the bill and could qualify for Charity Care based on their household income at the time of treatment.
Further information regarding the settlement can be found at the following website:
http://www.advocatecristianisettlement.com