New Haven, CT – In the latest sign of strained relations between the two groups, the hospital worker’s union has filed a class action lawsuit against the Yale-New Haven Health Care System concerning its debt collection policies.
The lawsuit, filed Dec. 16 in Superior Court, accuses Bridgeport and Yale-New Haven Hospitals of failing to inform low-income patients about “free-bed funds,” which are meant to pay the medical bills of patients with incomes at or below 250 percent of the poverty level.
The class action suit against the hospital comes amid recommendations by the national hospital industry for fairer billing and collection practices in hospitals. On Dec. 17, the American Hospital Association, which advocates on behalf of 5,000 hospitals around the nation, announced that it would be providing guidelines to hospitals on how to make care more affordable for low-income patients and offer more innovative payment programs.
Hospital workers have been without contracts since their previous contracts expired in late August. Following unsuccessful negotiating sessions, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) District 1199, which represents approximately 140 hospital employees, went on a three-week strike along with members of Yale’s two largest unions, locals 34 and 35, who have since reached new contracts.
For this complete story, please visit Workers’ Union Sues Hospital Over Debt Collection Practices.
