Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/211425
A RULING IN THE COUNTY'S FAVOR Doctors Hospital of Sarasota is located at the intersection of Bee Ridge Road and Cattlemen Road in Sarasota. Image from doctorsofsarasota.com CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE SIDES WITH SARASOTA COUNTY AGAINST A TRIO OF PRIVATE HOSPITALS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR TREATING INDIGENT PATIENTS By Roger Drouin County Editor A 12th Judicial Circuit Court judge has decided a lawsuit in favor of Sarasota County, potentially saving county taxpayers millions of dollars. Venice Regional Medical Center, Doctors Hospital of Sarasota and Englewood Community Hospital Inc. were seeking payments from the county under a section of a 54-year old law. On Feb. 25, 2011, the hospiIn a Nov. 4 order, Judge Kimberly Bonner ruled tals filed their complaint for declaratory relief, against the plaintiffs — a trio of area private seeking declaratory judgment and injunctive hospitals that were seeking reimbursement relief, according to the Circuit Court ruling. from the county for treating indigent patients. "The Plaintiffs request[ed] a determination as The hospitals filed their complaint almost to whether the county and the district must three years ago. Now that Bonner has issued reimburse them for care they have provided an order in favor of the county, they have 30 to medically indigent citizens, in addition to days to appeal. other relief," the ruling says.