Welcome to the Information Website for the Opelousas General Hospital Authority v. BCBS of Louisiana Lawsuit.

A Court authorized the Notice because providers such as you have a right to know about the proposed Settlement of this class action lawsuit and about all of your options, before the Court decides whether to give “final approval” to the Settlement. The Notice explains the lawsuit, the Settlement, and your legal rights.

Honorable Judge Ledricka Thierry of the 27th Judicial District Court for the Parish of St. Landry, State of Louisiana, is overseeing this class action settlement. The case is known as Opelousas General Hospital Authority. v. Louisiana Health Service & Indemnity Company d/b/a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, Case No. 16-C-3647.

The entity who initiated the lawsuit, Opelousas General Hospital Authority, A Public Trust, d/b/a Opelousas General Health System (“Opelousas General”), is called the “Plaintiff” and Louisiana Health Service & Indemnity Company d/b/a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana (“BCBSLA”) is called the “Defendant.”

The lawsuit alleges that Louisiana healthcare providers under contract with BCBSLA were compelled to accept reimbursements at below market rates for their treatment of Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield members since August 24, 2015. The lawsuit alleges BCBSLA violated Louisiana antitrust law in connection with these reimbursements. BCBSLA denies the Plaintiff’s claims and that they did anything wrong or illegal.


Your Legal Rights and Options in This Lawsuit
Receive a Payment and Other Benefits under the Settlement If you are eligible to receive a payment under this settlement, you will be sent a letter. There is no action to take now. The letter will contain instructions on how to receive a payment.
Request Exclusion

Request to be excluded from the Settlement and get no payment. This is the only option that allows you to be part of any other lawsuit about the legal claims resolved by this Settlement.

Your request to exclude yourself or “opt out” must be received no later than December 15, 2022.
Object

Write to the Court about why you do not like the Settlement.

Your objection must be filed with the Court and received by the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee no later than December 15, 2022
Go to a Hearing Ask to speak in Court about the Settlement.

Your legal rights are affected whether you act or do not act, so please read this website and the Notice carefully.

Current Status

A $115 million settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit regarding alleged below-market reimbursement of medical bills submitted by Louisiana healthcare providers to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana (“BCBSLA”) since August 24, 2015. If you received a Notice by mail, you have been identified as a Class Member. The settlement does not mean BCBSLA did anything wrong—and the Court did not decide that they did.

A Class Settlement Fund has been established to make payments to eligible Louisiana healthcare providers, as well as to cover lawyers’ fees, costs and expenses.


Important Dates
  • August 24, 2015–Effective Date
    Class Period
  • December 15, 2022
    Deadline to Exclude Yourself from the Settlement
  • December 15, 2022
    Deadline to Object to the Settlement
  • December 21, 2022, 9:00 a.m.
    Fairness Hearing