A Dane County judge issued a ruling requiring UW Health to face a jury on allegations that it violated Wisconsin law in its dealings with a patient.
The patient, represented by Attorney Briane Pagel and Lawton Cates, S.C., obtained a price quote from UW Health prior to her procedures. UW told her that her out-of-pocket costs would be $200 per procedure, but then billed her several thousand dollars for each procedure. When the patient objected, UW Health made various claims about the nature of the charges and what UW Health would do about it. Over the next several months, each time the patient went to medical appointments she was required to check in personally rather than electronically through a kiosk, and each time UW Health asked her about the bill under conditions in which others in the lobby could hear, and without noting that the patient was disputing the bill.
The patient sued, and UW Health tried to get the case dismissed. But Judge Rhonda Lanford issued a ruling holding that the patient had valid claims for false advertising, illegal debt collection practices, tortious interference with the contract, and breach of the contractual obligation of good faith.
Medical debts are often crushing burdens for people, and healthcare providers may not believe that they are subject to the same constraints other businesses are when collecting money they claim they are owed. Lawton Cates is committed to helping people manage their debt and to forcing businesses to comply with the law. If you are struggling to pay your debts or facing harassing and stressful collection efforts, call Lawton Cates for a free consultation with our consumer protection lawyers.
