Highmark BCBSD to Pay $1.85 Million to Settle Spam Calls Lawsuit

Highmark BCBSD Health Options Inc. and its telemarketing contractor Cotiviti Inc. would pay $1.85 million to settle allegations they made marketing calls to more than 7,400 consumers in violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, under a proposed settlement filed in federal court.

Christopher Walker, Kim Sterling, and Ernie Fisher sued Highmark alleging that the Medicaid-managed care plan called them using an automatic dialer without their permission. They later added Cotiviti as a co-defendant, alleging that the health-care analytics company was liable for the unwanted calls through its acquisition of Eliza Corp., which conducted the calls under contract with Highmark. ...