CASH GRAB: Americans to get payment from $225k surcharge settlement – Know Details
According to THE SUN, Healthcare patients in Wisconsin may be eligible for a share of a $225,000 settlement following allegations that St. Croix Regional Medical Center charged excessive fees for accessing medical records. The lawsuit, filed in Polk County, claims the medical center charged fees that exceeded what is allowed by Wisconsin law. These fees were allegedly imposed when providing copies of healthcare billing records in response to patient or authorized requests, such as those from lawyers handling personal injury cases.
Settlement Details
Although St. Croix Regional Medical Center denies any wrongdoing, it has agreed to settle the lawsuit to resolve the matter. Patients and individuals who requested medical records from the center since November 20, 2013, may qualify for compensation. To be eligible for a payout, claimants must have paid a fee for requesting, retrieving, or certifying medical records after this date.
Eligible class members need to provide proof of financial loss, such as billing records, legal claims, or lawsuit information. Requestors who are not patients must show evidence that the fees were not passed on to their clients. Those with accepted claims will receive up to 1.5 times the amount they paid in fees for medical records after November 2013.
Key Dates for Claimants
Several important deadlines are approaching:
- November 1: Deadline for eligible class members to object to any terms of the settlement agreement.
- November 18: Deadline for opting out of the settlement, which allows individuals to retain the right to pursue future legal action but means they will not receive any settlement payout. This is also the final day to submit claim forms. Missing this deadline means forfeiting any potential payment and legal rights related to the claims.
A final approval hearing for the settlement is scheduled for 9 am on January 31, 2025.
Other Data Breach Settlements
In addition to the St. Croix Regional Medical Center settlement, there are other ongoing data breach settlements:
- Nevada Restaurant Services Data Breach: A major data leak in 2021 exposed personal information, including bank account and Social Security numbers. Affected individuals may be eligible for up to $10,000 in compensation. The deadline to file a claim is approaching quickly.
- Acrisure Data Breach: A data breach affecting the financial technology and insurance brokerage company in 2022 may entitle some individuals to up to $4,000.
