$400K settlement reached in Kansas City medical records case

Lawyers have reached a $400,000 settlement in a Kansas City case in which records tossed into a dumpster were blown across a neighborhood, reports The Kansas City Star.

The settlement occurred between Midwest Women’s Healthcare Specialists and 1,532 of its patients. There is no evidence yet that the health data were improperly accessed and used.

If approved by a judge, about 1,430 clients whose documents never left the dumpster would split $141,000 and about 102 clients whose records weren’t recovered would split about $114,000 once their claims are approved. The lead plaintiff in the suit would receive $2,500 and attorneys representing the clients would get about $140,000, according to the article.

Also, the settlement would grant affected patients two years in credit monitoring and a commitment from Midwest to more rigorously train staff on disposing medical and billing records.