BALTIMORE, MD – Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced that his Consumer Protection Division has entered into a settlement agreement with LifeBridge Health, Inc. concerning hospital fees, known as outpatient facility fees, charged prior to July 1, 2021.
That is the date which the Facility Fee Right-to-Know Act took effect and established certain standards for notices regarding such fees. The settlement addresses the division’s concerns regarding the notices given to patients about such fees.
The division alleged that consumers were not adequately informed that they would be subject to the facility fees.
LifeBridge denied that patients had been inadequately informed but has agreed to pay $1,985,198.90 in restitution to patients who paid out of pocket for fees charged by certain LifeBridge hospital clinics for services that were received prior to the date the Facility Fee Right-to-Know Act took effect.
Such services were available at a non-hospital facility owned or operated by a LifeBridge affiliate where the consumer would not have incurred a facility fee.
Eligible patients should expect to receive a refund check from LifeBridge over the course of the next six months.
Consumers with questions regarding the settlement may call 410-576-6571.