Arkansas hospitals face four lawsuits, including one that seeks class-action status, after filing medical liens against patients, reports KTHV.
The lawsuits allege the hospitals refuse to accept the health insurance of patients who have been injured by the actions of others, according to the report. Hospitals and health systems facing lawsuits are: Baptist Health in Little Rock, Northwest Medical Center-Springdale, St. Bernard's Hospital Inc. of Jonesboro, Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Walnut Ridge, and Conway (Ark.) Regional Medical Center.
Patients claim these hospitals' billing practices and the medical liens can damage credit scores, according to the report. Hospitals, the report notes, said the practice is not against the law in Arkansas, though some states, including Indiana, have taken action to curb the practice.