Date Posted: Monday, August 23, 2004 at 11:00 AM CST
Contact: Richard Scruggs
(682) 281-1212
Attorney Richard Scruggs Disputes Alabama AG’s Actions
Oxford, MS—August 20, 2004—Richard F. Scruggs issued the following
statement today in response to Alabama Attorney General Troy R.
King’s statement and petition to appear as amicus curiae in a class
action lawsuit against Alabama’s Baptist Health System for
price-gouging its uninsured patients.
“The lawsuit against Baptist Health System cannot, nor does it seek
to, change the tax-exempt status of Baptist. These lawsuits aim to
hold hospitals accountable to the provision of charitable non-profit
healthcare in Alabama and other states, which has been abused by the
management of hospitals and the AHA to the point where uninsured
patients are being grossly overcharged for healthcare.
“We welcome Attorney Generals’ participation in the lawsuits to
fulfill their duty to protect their citizens. Attorney Generals in
Mississippi, Illinois, Minnesota and Connecticut have all taken
positive legal steps towards protecting their citizens against hospital
abuses. It is indeed disappointing that Mr. King, predecessor to
Attorney General Bill Pryor, is out of step with the nations’
Attorney Generals. However, it is not surprising. Upon Mr. King’s
advice, Mr. Pryor took the side of the tobacco industry until the
tobacco settlement was announced and then tried to take credit for the
settlement. Now, in the lawsuits against abusive nonprofit hospital
practices, Mr. King appears to be taking the side of wealthy hospital
administrators instead of his uninsured constituents. Based on his
record, it appears that Mr. King has never met a lawsuit against a
private citizen that he did not love and has never met a lawsuit
against a moneyed corporation that he did not hate.
“Contrary to General King’s statement yet consistent with the
rating agencies comments on the North Mississippi settlement, reforming
nonprofit hospital practices for the benefit of uninsured patients can
be a win-win for both patients and the hospitals without impairing the
hospital’s financial viability.”
For more information on the nonprofit hospital litigation, go to
www.nfplitigation.cm
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