A class action lawsuit was filed in 2004 by Jose Manuel Quintana, a tow truck driver, against HMA after his three hour visit to HMA's Fishermen's Hospital in Miami for chest pains landed him a $3,060 bill. HMA is the third largest hospital chain with 61 hospitals in 14 states. The lawsuit alleged the hospitals charged patients between 500 percent and 600 percent of cost and in some cases garnisheed wages, seized bank accounts, and placed liens on homes to collect on debts.
The settlement reached guaranteed discounts to uninsured patients equal to the average of what managed care providers pay at that hospital, along with rebates for about 634,397 patients who may have been overcharged during a 12-year period. Tim Parry, HMA's senior vice president and general counsel, said neither the discounts nor the $800,000 in legal fees, $10,000 of which will go to Quintana, will affect the company's financial health. (Jan-31-07) [HERALD TRIBUNE: HMA BILLS]
