Stevens Community Medical Center in Morris, Minnesota agreed to provide up to $1.4 million in refunds or medical-debt reductions to nearly 3,500 uninsured patients whose bills were miscalculated. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison's Office announced the settlement on August 13, 2026, correcting billing errors that charged eligible patients significantly more than Minnesota law allows. The settlement affects 3,478 uninsured patients who received care between April 1, 2020 and December 31, 2025, a period when the hospital was required to apply additional discounts based on household income but did not.
Table of Contents
- What Went Wrong With Your Bill
- Who Qualifies for the Refund or Debt Reduction
- How Much You May Receive
- How to Claim Your Refund or Debt Reduction
- Minnesota's Patient Financial Assistance Law
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Went Wrong With Your Bill
Stevens Community Medical Center improperly calculated financial assistance discounts for uninsured patients with household income below $125,000. The hospital charged some patients up to 20.5% more than Minnesota law requires. Instead of verifying income and applying the correct discount rate, the hospital applied a fixed discount to all uninsured patients without adjusting for those who qualified for additional help. This meant low-income patients who should have received a larger discount were billed at the standard rate.
Who Qualifies for the Refund or Debt Reduction
You are eligible if you meet all three conditions: The hospital sent notification letters to eligible patients in August 2026 explaining how to apply. If you received care at SCMC during this window, check your mail or contact the hospital directly to confirm whether you qualify.
- Received care at Stevens Community Medical Center between April 1, 2020 and December 31, 2025
- You were uninsured at the time of service
- Your household income was under $125,000 at the time you received care
How Much You May Receive
Eligible patients receive an additional 19–20% discount on their bills from the settlement period. The actual amount depends on your individual medical bills and what you were charged. A patient with a $5,000 bill, for example, would receive approximately $950–$1,000 in relief.
The total settlement pool is up to $1,412,776.25, shared among all eligible patients. Relief comes as either a direct refund or a reduction in remaining medical debt, depending on your situation.
How to Claim Your Refund or Debt Reduction
Start by checking the notification letter SCMC sent in August 2026, which should explain the application process. If you did not receive a letter or cannot find it, contact Stevens Community Medical Center directly to request information about your specific case. You will need to verify your household income at the time of service. Gather tax returns, pay stubs, or other income documentation from the relevant time period. The hospital will review your income verification and calculate your refund or debt reduction based on your qualifying bills.
Minnesota's Patient Financial Assistance Law
Minnesota requires all hospitals to provide discounts to uninsured patients with household income below $125,000. This requirement is part of a binding Hospital Agreement between SCMC and the Minnesota Attorney General's Office. When a hospital fails to apply these discounts correctly, the state can enforce the law and require refunds or debt reductions.
This settlement does not create a new protection—it enforces one already in place. If you believe any hospital is not following Minnesota's uninsured patient discount rules, you can report it to the Minnesota Attorney General's Office.
Frequently Asked Questions
I received care at SCMC but did not get a notification letter. Am I still eligible?
You may still be eligible. Contact Stevens Community Medical Center directly to ask whether your care falls within the settlement period (April 1, 2020–December 31, 2025) and whether your household income qualified. The letter was sent in August 2026, so check your mail carefully, including spam folders.
Do I have to pay anything to claim my refund or debt reduction?
No. The settlement requires the hospital to provide the relief without charging you to apply. If anyone asks you to pay to claim your share, that is a scam.
What if I already paid my bill in full? Can I still get a refund?
Yes. You are eligible for a direct refund of the amount you overpaid due to the improper discount calculation. Provide proof of payment when you apply.