Questions? Contact the Settlement Administrator at info@MichiganHospitalPaymentsLitigation.com or 1-877-846-0588 (Toll-Free).
© 2014-2018 Epiq All rights reserved | | Version: 1.0.0.114 | Updated: 2/1/2024 6:45:46 PM
The Shane Group, Inc. v. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan Case No. 2:10-cv-14360
BASIC INFORMATION
These Frequently Asked Questions and answers summarize the lawsuit, the Settlement, your legal rights, what benefits are available, who may be eligible for those benefits, and how to get them. For a more detailed and precise explanation of your legal rights and options, you can review the Amended Settlement Agreement.
The persons and entities who started the lawsuit are the “Plaintiffs.” The company they sued, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (“BCBSM”), is the “Defendant.” The case is known as The Shane Group, Inc. v. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Case No. 2:10-cv-14360. Court records that were recently unsealed are available for your review on the Documents page of this website.
Plaintiffs allege that BCBSM violated federal and state laws by using most favored nation clauses in contracts with 70 general acute care hospitals in Michigan. Plaintiffs claim that these clauses inflated prices for healthcare services at several Michigan hospitals. BCBSM denies Plaintiffs’ allegations, denies any wrongdoing, and contends that its actions caused lower, not higher, hospital prices.
In a class action, one or more people (in this case, Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters Employee Benefits Fund, The Shane Group, Inc., Bradley A. Veneberg, Abatement Workers National Health and Welfare Fund, Monroe Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 671 Welfare Fund, Scott Steele, Anne Patrice Noah, and Susan Baynard) sue on behalf of businesses, other organizations, and people who have similar claims. If allowed by a court, all of these organizations and people become part of a “Class” or “Class Members.” One lawsuit resolves the claims of all Class Members, except for any who exclude themselves from the Class.
The Court did not decide in favor of Plaintiffs or BCBSM. Instead, both sides agreed to settle this case to avoid the burden, cost, and risk of further litigation. The Settlement does not mean that any law was broken or that BCBSM did anything wrong. By settling, BCBSM is not admitting any wrongdoing or liability. BCBSM continues to deny all legal claims in this case. The Plaintiffs and their lawyers think the Settlement is best for all Class Members.
WHO IS INCLUDED IN THE NEW SETTLEMENT
The Settlement includes all direct purchasers of healthcare services from a Michigan General Acute Care Hospital between January 1, 2006 and June 23, 2014. The Class includes:
There are over 130 general acute care hospitals in Michigan. A list of these hospitals is available on the Documents page of this website.
The Class does not include BCBSM and related individuals and entities, such as past and present BCBSM employees and others released from liability by the Settlement Agreement. Under the terms of the Amended Settlement Agreement, the Class also does not include any person or entity who released BCBSM from liabilities related to the contract clauses at issue in this case.
If you received a Postcard Notice in the mail, you have been identified as a potential Class Member based on insurance records. If you did not receive a Postcard Notice in the mail, you still may be a Class Member if you paid a Michigan General Acute Care Hospital during the relevant time period. If you are not sure whether you are included in the Settlement, send an email to info@MichiganHospitalPaymentsLitigation.com, call 1-877-846-0588, or write to:
Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 3240
Portland, OR 97208-3240
THE NEW SETTLEMENT – WHAT YOU GET AND GIVE UP IF YOU QUALIFY
The new Settlement provides for BCBSM to pay $29,990,000 into a Settlement Fund. This money, plus interest, will be paid to:
In the earlier Settlement, the Court awarded attorneys’ fees and expenses to Plaintiffs’ Counsel and incentive awards to the Plaintiffs, but the awarded money was not paid because of the Sixth Circuit’s ruling. Plaintiffs and their Counsel will make a new request for attorneys’ fees, expenses and incentive awards in connection with the new Settlement.
Under the earlier settlement in this case, BCBSM paid $1 million of the $29,990,000 into the Settlement Fund in 2014 to pay for the cost of notifying the Class of the earlier settlement. The $1 million was spent for this purpose.
Under the new Settlement, BCBSM has paid another $1.2 million of the $29,990,000 into the Settlement Fund to pay for the estimated cost of notifying the Class about the new Settlement. The Court has approved use of the $1.2 million to pay for the new notice costs. However, Plaintiffs’ Counsel will ask for $1.2 million less in attorneys’ fees in connection with the new Settlement (compared to their request in the earlier settlement), so the attorneys, and not the Class, will bear the estimated cost of the new notice.
Yes. The new Settlement is slightly different from the earlier settlement. A redlined version of the Amended Agreement, available here, shows the differences from the earlier settlement. The two main differences are that BCBSM is no longer agreeing not to oppose Plaintiffs’ Counsel’s request for attorneys’ fees, expenses and plaintiff incentive awards, and BCBSM has agreed to pay (and did pay) a little over $1.2 million of the Settlement Amount into the Escrow Account to cover the estimated cost of notifying the Class of the new Settlement.
Class Members with small purchases of hospital healthcare services may be eligible for minimum payments of $25 and/or $15, depending on their particular purchases. Class Members with large purchases may be eligible for much higher payments, with the size of their payment depending on the factors described below. The maximum possible payment is 3.5% of the Class Member’s total purchases of healthcare services from Michigan General Acute Care Hospitals from January 1, 2006 through June 23, 2014.
The size of the payment will be determined by:
The Settlement Administrator will review each Claimant’s reported purchases to determine how much money, if any, they will receive. For specifics on how payments will be determined, please contact the Settlement Administrator or see the Plan of Allocation available here.
Settlement money will be mailed to Claimants after the Court approves the new Settlement and after any appeals are resolved. It is uncertain when and if any appeals will be taken and if so, when they would be resolved, but resolving them can take time. Please be patient. Updates will be posted on this website as they become available..
If the new Settlement is given Final Approval, you and all other Class Members will release certain claims defined in the Settlement as “Released Claims.” In general terms, Class Members who do not validly request to be excluded from the new Settlement will each release all of their claims against BCBSM and its affiliated persons and entities arising out of or in any way relating to BCBSM’s most favored nation clauses with Michigan General Acute Care Hospitals, or any matter or event arising out of the dispute being resolved in this Settlement. If the new Settlement is given Final Approval, the claims that were asserted against BCBSM in the lawsuit will be dismissed, with prejudice. A complete copy of the Release is available in paragraphs 58 to 65 of the Amended Settlement Agreement.
SUBMITTING A CLAIM FORM
To ask for a payment, you must submit a Claim Form. Claim Forms are available here, by writing to the Settlement Administrator, or by calling the toll-free number. You can also file online here.
If you submitted a Claim Form in 2014 for the earlier Settlement, your claim will be processed for the new Settlement, and you do not need to submit another Claim Form.
There are two different Claim Forms: one for Consumers, (individuals) and one for Insurers and Self-Insured Entities. Please be sure to use the right Claim Form.
The Claim Form for consumers has changed from the one used for the earlier Settlement. The Consumer Claim Form now offers a choice. Consumers can list the actual amount(s) they paid to qualifying hospitals. Or, if they prefer, they can accept a “default” amount to avoid the need to determine the actual amount(s) they paid. The consumer Claim Form explains these options in more detail.
After carefully reading the Claim Form instructions, fill out the Claim Form, attach any required documentation, sign it, and mail it postmarked no later than January 29, 2021 to:
Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 3240
Portland, OR 97208-3240
The deadline to file a claim is January 29, 2021.
If you already submitted a Claim Form for the earlier settlement, you do not need to submit another Claim Form, as your previous claim will be processed.
Consumers who submitted a Claim Form for the earlier Settlement and claimed purchases less than the default amount will be credited with the default amount, and do not need to submit another Claim Form. See the Consumer Claim Form for details about the default amount.
If you have questions about how to file a claim or to check whether you previously submitted a Claim Form, call the toll-free number 1-877-846-0588 or send an email to info@MichiganHospitalPaymentsLitigation.com or a letter to Settlement Administrator P.O. Box 3240 Portland, OR 97208-3240
EXCLUDING YOURSELF FROM THE NEW SETTLEMENT
If you do not want to participate in this Settlement, and you want to keep the right to sue BCBSM about the dispute in this case, then you must take steps to get out of the Settlement. This is called asking to be excluded from, or sometimes called “opting out” of, the Settlement.
In deciding whether to exclude yourself from the new Settlement, you may review the court records in this case at the Clerk’s Office at Theodore Levin U.S. Courthouse, 231 W. Lafayette Boulevard, Detroit, Michigan, 48226 during business hours. Court records that were recently unsealed have also been posted on the Settlement website and may be reviewed here.
No. If you exclude yourself, you may not submit a claim for a payment from the new Settlement, and you cannot object to the new Settlement. However, if you ask to be excluded, you do not release BCBSM from any claims based on the dispute in this case.
No. Unless you exclude yourself, you give up the right to sue BCBSM for any of the claims that this Settlement resolves. You must exclude yourself from the Class to start your own lawsuit, continue with a lawsuit, or be part of any other lawsuit against BCBSM relating to the “Released Claims” described in Section H of the Amended Settlement Agreement.
To exclude yourself from the new Settlement with BCBSM, you must send a letter by mail clearly stating that you want to be excluded from the Settlement in The Shane Group, Inc. v. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Case No. 2:10-cv-14360. Include your name, your business name (if applicable), address, telephone number, signature, and date. If applicable, your letter must also describe the position that authorizes you to request exclusion on behalf of your company.
You must mail your request for exclusion postmarked by September 16, 2018 to:
Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 3240
Portland, OR 97208-3240
You cannot ask to be excluded on the phone, by email, or on this website.
Yes. If you submitted a request to exclude yourself from the earlier settlement in this case, that request has no effect for this new Settlement. If you wish to exclude yourself from the new Settlement, you must submit a new request.
OBJECTING TO THE NEW SETTLEMENT
You can object to the new Settlement if you do not like some part or all of it. You must give reasons why you think the Court should not approve the new Settlement. You may also object to plaintiffs’ Counsel’s request for attorneys’ fees, reimbursement of expenses, and plaintiff incentive awards. To object, send a letter to the two addresses below, saying that you object to the Settlement in The Shane Group, Inc., v. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Case No. 2:10-cv-14360, and file your objection with the Court. Be sure to include any papers or briefs that support your objections.
You must file your objection with the Court no later than September 16, 2018 and mail your objection to Plaintiff's Counsel and Counsel for BCBSM postmarked no later than September 16, 2018 at the addresses below:
| Court | Plaintiff's Counsel | Counsel for BCBSM |
|
Theodore Levin U.S. Courthouse 231 W. Lafayette Boulevard Detroit, MI 48226 |
COHEN MILSTEIN SELLERS & TOLL PLLC Daniel A. Small Brent W. Johnson 1100 New York Avenue, NW Suite 500 Washington, DC 20005 |
SHEARMAN & STERLING LLP Todd M. Stenerson 401 9th Street N.W. Washington, DC 20004 |
Yes. If you objected to the earlier settlement in this case, that objection will not be considered for the new Settlement. If you wish to object to the new Settlement, you must send and file a new objection. If you objected before and wish to object again, you may make some or all of your prior arguments, and/or you may make new arguments.
In deciding whether to object to the new Settlement, you may review the court records in this case at the Clerk’s Office at Theodore Levin U.S. Courthouse, 231 W. Lafayette Boulevard, Detroit, Michigan, 48226 during business hours. Court records that were recently unsealed have also been posted on the Settlement website and may be reviewed here.
Objecting is telling the Court that you do not like something about the new Settlement. You can object only if you stay in the Class. Excluding yourself is telling the Court that you do not want to be part of the new Settlement. If you exclude yourself, you cannot object to the Settlement because the Settlement no longer affects you.
If the new Settlement is finally approved and you did not request to be excluded from the Settlement, you will remain a Class Member regardless of whether you objected. You will remain bound by the terms of the Settlement and will not be able to sue BCBSM about the claims in this case.
THE LAWYERS WHO REPRESENT YOU
The Court appointed four law firms to represent the Class: The Miller Law Firm, P.C.; Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC; Gustafson Gluek PLLC; and Wolf, Haldenstein, Adler, Freeman & Herz LLC. These four law firms, together with other law firms that have assisted them, are called “Plaintiffs’ Counsel.” You will not be charged for these lawyers. If you want to be represented by your own lawyer in this case, you may hire one at your own expense.
Plaintiffs’ Counsel have asked the Court for attorneys’ fees of $8,631,628.67 and reimbursement of their litigation expenses in this case of $3,500,000. Plaintiffs’ Counsel will also ask the Court to reimburse the total costs of administering this Settlement. Plaintiffs’ Counsel also requested incentive awards of up to $45,000 for each Plaintiff organization and up to $10,000 for each Plaintiff individual, for their services on behalf of the Class. Plaintiffs’ Counsel’s application for attorneys’ fees and expenses is posted here.
Plaintiffs’ Counsel have requested less in attorneys’ fees in connection with this new Settlement (compared to their request in the earlier settlement), so they (and not the Class) bear the estimated cost of notifying the Class of the new Settlement.
The Court may award less than the amounts requested by Plaintiffs’ Counsel. Payments approved by the Court will be made from the Settlement Fund.
THE COURT’S FAIRNESS HEARING
At the Fairness Hearing, the Court will consider whether the new Settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate. The Court will also consider Plaintiffs’ Counsel’s request for attorney fees and expenses and plaintiff incentive awards. If there are objections, the Court will consider them. After the Fairness Hearing, the Court will decide whether to approve the new Settlement and how much to award for fees, expenses, and incentive awards.
The Court will hold the Fairness Hearing at 2:00 p.m., on November 8, 2018, at the United States Courthouse, Theodore Levin U.S. Courthouse, 231 W. Lafayette Boulevard, Detroit, MI 48226. A motion for Final Approval of the Settlement will be filed by Plaintiffs’ Counsel by October 16, 2018. The motion will also be posted on this website.
The Fairness Hearing may be moved to a different date or time without additional notice, so it is recommended that you periodically check this website for updated information.
No. Plaintiffs’ Counsel will answer any questions the Court may have. However, you are welcome to attend the hearing at your own expense. If you send in a written objection, you do not have to come to the Fairness Hearing to talk about it. As long as you mailed your written objection on time, the Court will consider it. You also may pay your own lawyer to attend the Fairness Hearing, but his or her attendance is not necessary.
You may speak at the Fairness Hearing if you submitted an objection as described in the answer to FAQ 19 and stated in your objection that you wish to be heard at the Fairness Hearing. You cannot speak at the hearing if you exclude yourself from the new Settlement.
If you choose to appear in person at the Fairness Hearing, you can appear yourself or by retaining an attorney at your own expense to appear on your behalf. If the attorney is appearing on behalf of more than one Class Member, he or she must identify each of those Class Members.
GETTING MORE INFORMATION
If you are a Class Member and do nothing, you will not get a payment from this Settlement. And, unless you exclude yourself, you will not be able to start a lawsuit, continue with a lawsuit, or be part of any other lawsuit against BCBSM relating to claims being resolved by this Settlement, ever again.
The Notice and this website summarize the new Settlement. More details are in the Amended Settlement Agreement available at the Documents page of this website. If you still have questions, call the Settlement Administrator at 1-877-846-0588, send an email to info@MichiganHospitalPaymentsLitigation.com, or write to Settlement Administrator P.O. Box 3240, Portland, OR 97208-3240.
PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT BCBSM, ITS COUNSEL, THE COURT, OR THE CLERK’S OFFICE.
Based on the Court-approved Plan of Allocation, the Settlement money was allocated into three Categories. Under the Plan, Relevant Purchases likewise were broken into these categories, and award amounts were calculated by category. Relevant Purchases excluded any transactions for which you received notice of a defect that was not cured. If the amount of Relevant Purchases noted on your check stub exceeds the amount you claimed, this is because the second Consumer Claim Form provided for a default $50 minimum of Relevant Purchases for outpatient care and a default $414 minimum of Relevant Payments for inpatient care.
Plan of Allocation Exhibits 1 and 2, which identify the insurer-date-hospital combinations in Category 1 and the date-hospital combinations in Category 2, are available in the exhibits to the Plan of Allocation. The date and Michigan General Acute Care Hospital combinations not identified in Exhibit 1 or Exhibit 2 fall into Category 3.
Please note that, under the Plan of Allocation, if your claimed Relevant Payments were only in Category 3, your pro rata share of Category 3 settlement funds had to exceed $10.00 to receive a payment. Each Category 3 payment under $10 was donated to Free Clinics of Michigan.
For awards of $50 .00 or less:
Please mail copies of the death certificate and the documentation stating who is eligible to receive the funds to the following address:
Shane Group v BCBSM Settlement
Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 3240
Portland, OR 97208-3240
All requests must be received by the void date on the original check in order to be honored. Please allow 4-6 weeks to receive a reissued check.
For awards of more than $50.00:
Please complete a Michigan Small Estates Affidavit, which is available for download here. It will require a copy of the death certificate to be attached. No attorney or probate is required to complete this affidavit. The payment will be made in the name of the requestor only and he/she will be responsible to divide any shares among the beneficiaries upon receipt.
Send the completed affidavit along with the death certificate to:
Shane Group v BCBSM Settlement
Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 3240
Portland, OR 97208-3240
All requests must be received by the void date on the original check in order to be honored. Please allow 4-6 weeks to receive a reissued check.
For dissolved business no longer in operation:
Please mail copies of the following items:
NOTE: If the business was a sole proprietorship and the owner is deceased, payment can be made to the estate of the decedent; provide a copy of the Letters Domiciliary. Alternatively, if the probate has closed, provide a copy of the final order of the probate court showing the recipient of the residuary of the estate and the claimant name can be updated to that individual or entity.
For sold or merged businesses:
Mail a copy of the contract (buy/sell agreement, purchase or acquisition contract, merger agreement) showing the party right to any outstanding claims by the original entity demonstrating your right to collect on this claim when you submit your claim.
For businesses with a name change only:
Mail proof of the name change with articles of amendment, updated documentation for sales tax or other registration showing the original name of the business consistent with the claimant name and the new name.
You may mail copies of documentation to:
Shane Group v BCBSM Settlement
Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 3240
Portland, OR 97208-3240
All requests must be received by the void date on the original check in order to be honored. Please allow 4-6 weeks to receive a reissued check.
Please mail a signed letter requesting a reissue of the check to the following address:
Shane Group v BCBSM Settlement
Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 3240
Portland, OR 97208-3240
All requests must be received by the void date on the original check in order to be honored. Please allow 4-6 weeks to receive a reissued check.
You will not receive an IRS Form 1099-MISC or any other tax reporting documents related to this payment. Please consult with your tax advisor about the tax implications of receiving an award from the settlement. Plaintiffs’ Counsel are not tax lawyers and are not providing tax advice to you or the Class members. If this will be a taxable event, the answer is likely dependent on each taxpayer’s individual financial and income/deduction reporting circumstances. Each claimant is encouraged to consult with a tax advisor of their own choosing before deciding how to proceed.
General information and the Court documents, including the Plan of Allocation are available here. The Plan of Allocation document goes into detail about calculations and should answer your questions.
The settlement check is only valid for 60 days from the issue date. Please deposit promptly; uncashed distributions are subject to forfeiture after the 60 days.
Check disbursement occurred on January 31, 2024 to those settlement class members who filed valid and timely claims. The checks are only valid for 60 days from issuance. Please deposit promptly.
Questions? Contact the Settlement Administrator at info@MichiganHospitalPaymentsLitigation.com or 1-877-846-0588 (Toll-Free).
© 2014-2018 Epiq All rights reserved | | Version: 1.0.0.114 | Updated: 2/1/2024 6:45:46 PM