$11M Sutter Health billing class action settlement

Sutter Health agreed to pay $11 million to resolve a class action lawsuit claiming it submitted fraudulent bills for anesthesia services that were not rendered, were double-billed or were described in a misleading manner.

The Sutter Health class action settlement benefits all self-funded payers who were citizens of California on Jan. 6, 2015, or that are state and local governmental entities of the State of California and that paid Sutter Health for any anesthesia services, other than conscious sedation, administered in Sutter Health’s operating rooms at acute care hospitals at any time from Jan. 1, 2003, to Dec. 31, 2013.

The lawsuit alleged Sutter Health engaged in fraudulent, unlawful and unfair business practices by submitting and receiving payment on bills for “anesthesia services” that were not rendered, resulting in self-funded payers paying more for anesthesia services than they should have.

In March 2021, Sutter Health agreed to a $575M antitrust settlement to resolve allegations it engaged in anticompetitive contracting practices with major health insurance companies. In February 2022, another antitrust class action alleged that the company engaged in unfair practices in rural areas of northern California.

Sutter Health is a not-for-profit health system in Northern California with 24 hospitals and more than 200 clinics.

Sutter Health has not admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to pay $11 million to resolve the anesthesia billing class action lawsuit.

Under the terms of the Sutter Health anesthesia billing settlement, class members can receive a cash payment based on the number of active participants in their plan from 2003 through 2013 that they list on their claim form.

The deadline for exclusion is June 7, 2022, and the deadline for objection is May 12, 2025.

The final approval hearing for the Sutter Health class action settlement is scheduled for July 24, 2025.

To receive a settlement payment, class members must submit a valid claim form by June 9, 2025.

Who’s Eligible

Certain California self-funded payers that compensated Sutter Health for any anesthesia services, other than conscious sedation, administered in Sutter Health’s operating rooms at acute care hospitals at any time from Jan. 1, 2003, to Dec. 31, 2013.

Potential Award

Varies.

Proof of Purchase

Claim Form 5500 or Form 5500-SF issued by the class member’s healthcare provider.

Claim Form

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

06/09/2025

Case Name

District Council #16 Northern California Health and Welfare Trust Fund v. Sutter Health, et al., Case No. RG15753647, in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Alameda

Final Hearing

07/24/2025

Settlement Website

SutterAnesthesiaBillingLawsuit.com

Claims Administrator

Sutter Anesthesia Billing Lawsuit Settlement
c/o JND Legal Administration
P.O. Box 91208
Seattle, WA 98111
[email protected]
888-995-0238

Class Counsel

Christopher L. Lebsock
Arthur N. Bailey Jr.
Bruce J. Wecker
Tae Kim
HAUSFELD LLP

Defense Counsel

Sharif E. Jacob
Erin E. Meyer
Anjali Srinivasan
Maile Yeats-Rowe
Ryan J. Hayward
Michael K. Deamer
Imara H. McMillan
Niharika S. Sachdeva
KEKER, VAN NEST & PETERS LLP