SEATTLE — Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson is filing a consumer protection lawsuit against five Swedish hospitals and nine Providence-affiliated facilities.
The lawsuit claims the hospitals failed to ensure that eligible low-income residents in Washington received their legally entitled discounts.
The hospitals also aggressively collected money from low-income Washingtonians who were eligible for charity care, according to the lawsuit.
Washington has a charity care law that protects low-income residents — whether they are insured or not — from out-of-pocket hospital costs.
Ferguson’s lawsuit says the hospitals committed thousands of Consumer Protection Act violations, including:
- Training employees to aggressively collect payment regardless of whether patients were eligible for financial aid, and instructing them to use a specific script when communicating with patients that gives patients the impression that they are expected to pay for their care. Providence instructed employees, “don’t accept the first no.”
- Failing to tell patients they were eligible for charity care financial aid when the providers determined that they qualified for assistance.
- Sending more than 54,000 patient accounts to debt collection, despite knowing the patients qualified for financial help. The 54,000 accounts totaled more than $70 million.
Ferguson said the hospitals’ illegal activities began in 2018, and much of their conduct continues.
The lawsuit seeks the full write-off of medical debts and refunds for patients who did not receive financial aid.
If you paid for medical services or are in debt for a medical bill from a Providence or Swedish hospital, or Kadlec Regional Medical Center, and believe you may be eligible for charity care, contact Attorney General’s Office Investigator Bau Vang at 206-516-2989 or by email at bau.vang@atg.wa.gov.