Judge could settle St. Louis-based BJC’s uninsured policy

Uninsured patients being treated at St. Louis-based BJC Healthcare hospitals could pay less for services under a proposed class-action settlement between the hospital system and a group of its uninsured patients. A judge was scheduled to give final approval, but several other members of the suit have filed objections to the settlement. They say the ruling does little to address the excessive prices billed to patients without insurance. Concerns include that self-pay discounts of 25% are insufficient considering the underlying charge can be three times what an insured patient might be billed.