The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California granted final approval for a settlement with United Health Services, which will give $9.5 million to 270 California ambulatory surgery centers.
Here are five key notes:
1. More than six years ago, Hooper, Lundy and Bookman filed the class action against United Health on behalf of the California ASCs. Downey Surgical Clinic and Tarzana Surgery Center were the class representatives for the class action.
2. The class action claimed United Healthcare and several of its corporate subsidiaries, including Optum, failed to properly calculate the reasonable and customary amounts for out-of-network ASCs.
3. United Healthcare's alleged actions resulted in underpayments worth millions of dollars for the surgery centers.
4. In September 2015, United Health agreed to the $9.5 million settlement fund.
5. Some ASCs that filed the settlement will receive payments surpassing $400,000.
"This is an important victory for out-of-network surgery centers," said lead attorney, Daron Tooch. "We are pleased that the court has approved a settlement that will adequately compensate California surgery centers whose claims were underpaid. We would particularly like to thank our class representatives, Downey Surgical Clinic and Tarzana Surgery Center, for their patience, persistence and willingness to stand up for their rights in this litigation."
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