Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.
A group of Florida consumers filed a class action lawsuit Monday claiming Health First, Inc has driven up the price of acute care by forming a monopoly.
Lead plaintiffs, Anthony Colucci, Vanessa Lorraine Skipper, and Kelly Baker, each say they and other consumers have paid artificially inflated prices for acute care through Health First, a health system located in Central Florida. In their lawsuit filed in federal court in Florida, the consumers accuse Health First of buying up competitors, leaving customers with little choice in health care providers and price when it comes to acute care.
Acute care, explains the complaint, are short-term health care treatments provided at a hospital. Patients generally receive acute care at a hospital to address an urgent health need and the hospital where the care takes place is usually determined by a doctor and not the patient. The physician makes the choice, says the lawsuit, based on the medical needs of the patient and not the cost of the services.
“Accordingly, a monopolist can impose a small but significant price increase in the price of acute care hospital service without causing patients to switch to outpatient services or other health care options,” alleges the complaint.
The class action points out that Health First is the parent corporation of four affiliated hospitals located in Central Florida, including Holmes Regional Medical Center, Cape Canaveral Hospital Inc., Palm Bay Hospital, and Viera Hospital, Inc. In addition, the company is also the parent corporation of subsidiaries that manage physician groups and administer health plans.
Allegedly, the market share of Health First has increased, from an 86.6 percent share in 2014 to more than 90 percent currently. The class action lawsuit claims that Health First has created a monopoly over acute care services in the Central Florida region and subjected area patients to higher prices as a result.
The class action lawsuit seeks to represent both patients and health plans that have directly paid Health First for acute care services since April 19, 2017. The plaintiffs seek to obtain relief for these payments they claim were inflated by Health First’s acute care monopoly in the region.
Do you have a Health First health plan? Are you concerned about a monopoly in acute care in the region? Tell us in the comment section below.
The plaintiffs are represented by Ronald G. Meyer of Meyer and Blohm, PA, and R. Stephen Berry of Berry Law PLLC.
The Health First Acute Care Monopoly Class Action Lawsuit is Colucci, et al v. Health First, Inc., Case No. 6:21-cv-00681-RBD-GJK in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida Orlando Division.
Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:
- Johnson & Johnson Halts Vaccine After Rare but Dangerous Blood Clots Reported
- Patient Information Compromised in Data Breach, Claims Class Action Lawsuit Against Roper St. Francis Healthcare
- Do You Qualify: Data Breach Lawsuit Claim Review
- COBRA Notice: Continued Medical Coverage Class Action Lawsuit Investigation
One thought on Class Action Claims Florida Acute Care Monopoly Hiked Patient Prices
Medstar Health in Washington DC hiked up the price of anesthesia. I was charged $36,000 for anesthesia for a c-section. I have been disputing the charges and they claim that is correct. And if this is not bad enough, I was charged atleast doubled between Medstar Southern MD on 2/22/21 and Medstar Washington 2/26/21 for the same services provided. My medical reports were sent over so they provided the same services twice with the intent of double charging me even though they had performed the services already at Medstar Southern MD. Same service but 3X the amount at Medstar Washington Hospital Center. I requested an itemized bill and they argument was that they have the right to provide the service again regardless of the fact they are under the same Medstar Group. So in my eyes, they have committed Medical Fraud with the intent of overcharging me and my health insurance company. So I have one bill for Medstar Southern MD for $8,787 for 2 days and then I have a bill for $72,000 for Medstar Washington Hospital Center for 7 days.