Health Plan of Nevada, the insurance company accused of negligence regarding the 2008 hepatitis C outbreak, reached a confidential settlement late last week with the remaining plaintiffs who claim to have contracted the disease, lawyers for the plaintiffs reported.

The outbreak occurred at endoscopy clinics in Nevada owned by Dr. Dipak Desai, who contracted with Health Plan of Nevada. Dr. Desai was convicted last year of all 27 criminal counts against him related to the hepatitis outbreak, including second-degree murder in the death of an infected patient. He was sentenced to life in prison.

Last year, a jury ordered Health Plan of Nevada to pay $500 million to 3 people in a case stemming from the outbreak. According to reports, the confidential settlement reached last week involved more than 10 plaintiffs. The law firms representing the plaintiffs did not immediately return requests for comment.

The settlement reportedly came as the jury was being chosen for a trial involving a patient who contracted the disease. The patient claimed that he was insured by Health Plan of Nevada and was required to obtain healthcare services from contracted providers, including Dr. Desai's clinics.

Many have questioned why the insurer continued to send patients to Dr. Desai, despite his centers' dangerous practices, including rushed colonoscopies that lasted less than 10 minutes and unsafe injection practices that included reusing single-use vials of propofol and reusing syringes.

In previous published reports, a spokesperson for Health Plan of Nevada claimed that Dr. Desai hid his schedule from the company, and the insurer terminated his contract once authorities identified the outbreak. Health Plan of Nevada representatives were unable to be reached for comment.

Kendal Gapinski