The Indiana Supreme Court has declined to hear a case between Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Parkview Hospital and a former patient, thereby enforcing an appeals court order for the hospital to publish rates it charges to in-network insurance companies, The Journal Gazette reports.
Former patient Thomas Frost filed suit against the hospital after it billed Mr. Frost $625,000 for a month-long hospitalization for a catastrophic injury. The suit alleged Parkview Hospital charged Mr. Frost "unreasonable rates" for services because he was uninsured. The suit claimed rates from the hospitals chargemaster — the official list of charges for medical services and procedures before insurance — are simply a starting point for negotiations with carriers, and are not intended to be paid in full by patients.
An appeals court ruled in favor of Mr. Frost and ordered Parkview Hospital release information about discounts offered to patients with commercial or government insurance.
Indiana Supreme Court justices rejected the case in a 3-2 vote after hearing oral arguments Sept. 2.