If State’s High Court Weighs In On Self-Pay Patient Case, Ripples Could Be Felt Throughout Hospital Industry
A key issue involves an unpublished appellate court opinion about whether self-pay patients who were treated at two Fresno-area hospitals are allowed to challenge their bills as part of a class action. One of the patients is asking the Supreme Court to get the opinion published which would make it citable in other California cases.
Sacramento Bee:
A $7,812.03 Hospital Bill Started A Case That Is Now At The California Supreme Court
The California Supreme Court has been asked to look at an appellate court decision involving a Fresno hospital patient’s emergency department bill that could have a far-reaching effect on what hospitals in the state charge patients with no insurance. At issue is an unpublished opinion by the 5th District Court of Appeal issued on July 11 that would allow self-pay patients who were treated at two Fresno-area hospitals to challenge their bills as part of a class action. Community Medical Centers appealed the decision to the Supreme Court. (Anderson, 9/20)
In other hospital news —
Ventura County Star:
A Look Inside The New St. John's Pleasant Valley Hospital
Darren Lee doesn’t want people to settle for care at the new St. John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital that will be unveiled on Saturday. The CEO of the Camarillo hospital doesn’t want patients to end up at this place that took $80 million and three years to build simply because it’s where the ambulance took them. ...Tours of the complex that’s called an addition but is in essence a new hospital will be held in a grand opening Saturday. The actual opening for patients, once envisioned for March and later for end of September, has been pushed back to sometime before Thanksgiving. (Kisken, 9/20)