Maryland Attorney General Secures Nearly $2 Million in Restitution for Patients from LifeBridge Health

Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has announced a significant settlement agreement with LifeBridge Health, Inc., securing $1,985,198.90 in restitution for patients. This agreement stems from concerns raised by the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division regarding outpatient facility fees charged by certain LifeBridge hospital clinics. The fees in question were applied to services rendered before July 1, 2021, the effective date of the Facility Fee Right-to-Know Act, which mandated specific notice requirements for such charges.

The Consumer Protection Division had raised allegations that patients were not sufficiently informed about the imposition of these outpatient facility fees. While LifeBridge Health maintains that patients were adequately notified, the organization has agreed to the settlement to resolve these concerns. The restitution will be distributed to patients who paid out-of-pocket for fees associated with clinic services at LifeBridge hospital clinics. Critically, this applies to situations where comparable services were available at a non-hospital facility owned or operated by a LifeBridge affiliate, where patients would not have incurred a facility fee. Patients deemed eligible for this restitution can anticipate receiving a refund check from LifeBridge Health within the next six months. Individuals seeking further information about the settlement or their eligibility can contact the Consumer Protection Division directly at 410-576-6571.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the Maryland Attorney General.

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