PHILADELPHIA, April 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge Albert W. Sheppard, Jr. has approved a settlement of the class action litigation brought by the Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society and several healthcare providers in connection with their payment and reimbursement for services, procedures and products from Independence Blue Cross (IBC).
In addition to approving the settlement, Judge Sheppard has also invalidated all timely opt-outs that had been submitted by class members on the grounds that “certain communications [to providers] had misled class members and caused them to file opt-outs.” The Court has required that a new notice of the settlement and opt-out procedure be disseminated to such class members who had previously opted out and that they be given a new opportunity to opt-out if they wish.
The notice, a letter from the Court directed to class members, and opt-out procedure may be accessed at http://www.ibx.com/ or http://www.paorthosociety.org/.
Independence Blue Cross is represented by Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P. The Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society and provider representatives are represented by the law firms of Billet & Connor, P.C. and Berger & Montague, P.C.
Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society
CONTACT: Kathy DeWittie of the Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society,+1-717-909-8901, pos@paorthosociety.org, or Butch Ward of Independence BlueCross, +1-215-241-2220, butch.ward@ibx.com
Web site: http://www.ibx.com/
Web site: http://www.bergermontague.com/
Web site: http://www.paorthosociety.org/
