Kaiser Permanente tentatively settled a suit brought by small physicians in the Inland Empire Sept. 12.
Physicians for Healthy Hospitals alleged Kaiser intentionally underserved its healthcare clients in the county so their care would instead be performed by PHH’s hospitals, and that Kaiser would stiff PHH when billed for the care of more than 3,190 of Kaiser’s insured. Kaiser paid PHH $7.5 million out of a billed $21 million, according to court documents.
Kaiser denied the claims in a general denial. Some bills were not paid at a reduced rate due to a glitch in Kaiser’s payment software, said Marcus Hoffman, Kaiser Foundation Health
