Atrium Health settles class-action lawsuit in Charlotte alleging it shared patient data

Atrium Health has agreed to a $1.8 million settlement in a class action lawsuit alleging it had allowed Facebook and Google to access patient data for targeted ads.

The settlement, which was approved May 22, stems from several 2024 class action lawsuits on the federal and state levels against the Charlotte-based healthcare organization. Atrium installed Meta Pixel — a piece of code that collected private medical information — on its website, the lawsuits alleged.

Atrium has denied any wrongdoing.

A website with information on the settlement is now available.

United States residents who had a MyAtriumHealth or MyCarolinas patient portal account between Jan. 1, 2015, and April 10, 2024, are eligible to submit a claim, according to the settlement.

The settlement splits the class into two groups. Patients who had but did not access their accounts during that period of time are eligible for a pro-rata share, or equal split, of $300,000. Separately, those who accessed or used their patient portal accounts between Jan. 1, 2015, and July 31, 2019, are eligible for an equal share of $1.5 million after court fees and attorney’s fees.

Patients can only qualify for one category of payment — not both. While it’s unclear how much each patient would receive, those who did not access their accounts would receive up to $10, according to the settlement website. The final amount is dependent on how many class members opt into the settlement.

Claim forms can be submitted online or via mail by Sept. 28. The deadline to opt out or object to the settlement is Aug. 31.

The final hearing to approve the settlement and payments is scheduled for Sept. 30.

The Charlotte Observer has reached out to Atrium and attorneys in the case for comment.