The Scruggs Law Firm of Oxford, Miss., a law firm known for its suits against makers of tobacco and asbestos has filed class-action lawsuits against not-for-profit hospitals and health systems, accusing them of using their tax exemptions to benefit board members and physicians while charging high prices to uninsured patients. The law firm sued 13 hospitals and health systems and the American Hospital Association on behalf of uninsured patients. The firm said it expects to file similar suits against other major hospitals. The charges include breaches of charitable trust, consumer fraud, deceptive business practices, unjust enrichment, and violations of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act.
Some of the defendants are: Allina Health System and Fairview Health Systems, both based in Minneapolis; Baptist Health Systems, Birmingham, Ala.; Baptist Hospital of Miami; Catholic Healthcare Partners, Cincinnati; DeKalb Medical Center, Decatur, Ga.; East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System, Tyler; Medical Center of Central Georgia, Macon; Phoebe Putney Health Systems, Albany, Ga.; Provena Health, Mokena, Ill.; St. Thomas Hospital, Nashville; and Wellstar Health Systems, Marietta, Ga.