
By: Mike Scarcella
Dec 22 (Reuters) – A U.S. judge has rejected Blue Cross Blue Shield Association’s bid to bar monetary damages claims from a long-running antitrust case allowing Alabama healthcare providers to seek billions of dollars from the insurance giant and its members for allegedly scheming to underpay them for years.
The ruling on Thursday by U.S. District Judge R. David Proctor in Birmingham allows the claims from health professionals, hospitals and other providers to move forward.
A separate class in the case made up of insurance subscribers, including companies and individuals, settled related claims for $2.7 billion in 2020.