For immediate release         Contact: The Lamb Firm
September 28, 2005             ph. 205-324-4643
 
PHYSICIANS, PRUDENTIAL AND HEALTHNET ANNOUNCE COURT APPROVAL OF SETTLEMENT OF LANDMARK LITIGATION - 09/28/05

Miami, FL – Prudential, HealthNet and representatives of hundreds of thousands of  physicians, state and local medical societies announced that their settlement of the national class action lawsuit pending in the federal court for the Southern District of Florida before U.S. District Judge Federico Moreno has been approved.
 
Similar to earlier settlements with Aetna and Cigna, approval of this settlement provides a mechanism by which physicians can obtain compensation in connection with the claims brought in the lawsuits.  
 
Prudential and HealthNet shall be required to implement important changes to its' business practices which will result in significant savings to physicians in overhead costs and time spent contesting claims.  This final judicial approval of the settlement agreement by Judge Moreno has extinguished liability for lawsuits filed against Prudential and HealthNet over the last decade by physicians and physician groups.
 
“The judicial approval of this  agreement advances a very basic principle: that the physicians' input is a critical part of the health care system.  We are delighted that Judge Moreno has approved the settlement,” noted Lead Counsel for the physicians, Archie Lamb.  “We hope it puts leverage on the other health plan defendants to move ahead and resolve this suit without the need for a protracted trial,” he continued.

For additional details or to schedule an interview, please contact Jenenne Boyd at the Lamb Firm at 205-324-4643.