A California Supreme Court case started as a $7,812.03 hospital bill
by Barbara Anderson, Fresno Bee
The California Supreme Court has been asked to look at an appellate court decision involving a Fresno hospital patient’s emergency department bill that could have a far-reaching effect on what hospitals in the state charge patients with no insurance.
At issue is an unpublished opinion by the 5th District Court of Appeal issued on July 11 that would allow self-pay patients who were treated at two Fresno-area hospitals to challenge their bills as part of a class action.
Community Medical Centers appealed the decision to the Supreme Court.
As it stands, the appellate court opinion could encompass thousands of self-pay patients who had hospital bills from Community Regional Medical Center in downtown Fresno and Clovis Community Medical Center. But its potential to become influential in lawsuits against hospitals statewide depends on the California Supreme Court.