Case Overview: Wellstar Health System and Cone Health have agreed to separate settlements resolving class action lawsuits alleging that tracking pixels on their websites transmitted patients' private health information to third parties, including Meta and Google.

Who Qualifies: Patients of Wellstar Health System or Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital whose personal or health information may have been collected and shared via website tracking technology.

Estimated Payout: Varies by settlement; specific per-claimant amounts have not yet been publicly disclosed.

Deadline: Check the official settlement websites for claim filing deadlines.

Wellstar Health System and Cone Health Reach Settlements in Website Pixel Privacy Lawsuits

Patients of two major health systems may be eligible for compensation following settlements reached in class action lawsuits alleging that tracking pixels embedded on healthcare websites shared sensitive personal and medical information with technology companies without patients' knowledge or consent.

According to reporting by the HIPAA Journal, Wellstar Health System and Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital Operating Corporation — which operates Cone Health — have each agreed to resolve separate class action suits tied to the use of third-party tracking tools on their patient-facing web platforms.

What the Lawsuits Alleged

The lawsuits alleged that Wellstar and Cone Health deployed tracking pixels — small pieces of code commonly used for digital advertising and analytics — on their websites, including patient portal pages. According to the complaints, these pixels allegedly transmitted data to third parties such as Meta (the parent company of Facebook) and Google when patients interacted with the sites.

The plaintiffs claimed that the information shared may have included details about medical appointments, health conditions, and other protected health information — data that patients reasonably expected to remain private when seeking care through a hospital's digital systems. The lawsuits alleged this practice violated patients' privacy rights and potentially ran afoul of federal health privacy law.

Wellstar and Cone Health have not admitted wrongdoing as part of the settlements.

What You Could Receive

Eligible class members may be entitled to a cash payment from the settlement fund, though individual payout amounts will likely depend on the total number of valid claims submitted and the specific terms of each settlement agreement. As is typical in class action settlements of this nature, those who submit claims without documentation may receive a lower base payment, while those who can demonstrate a higher degree of harm could potentially receive more.

Specific payout ranges had not been publicly detailed in available reporting at the time of publication. Claimants are encouraged to review the official settlement materials for the most current compensation information.

Are You Eligible?

You may be eligible to file a claim if you:

• Were a patient of Wellstar Health System and used its website or patient portal during the relevant class period, and your information may have been collected by third-party tracking technology
• Were a patient of Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital (Cone Health) and similarly interacted with its digital platforms during the applicable timeframe

Documentation needed: Specific documentation requirements, including whether proof of patienthood or portal activity is required, should be confirmed through each settlement's official claims process. In many pixel-related settlements, attestation without receipts is accepted.

How to File a Claim

1. Visit the official settlement website for the applicable settlement (Wellstar or Cone Health) — links are expected to be published through the settlement administrators
2. Complete the online or paper claim form
3. Provide any required supporting information or attestation
4. Submit your claim before the applicable deadline

Patients who are members of both health systems should determine whether they are eligible to file under one or both settlements. The settlement administrator for each case can provide guidance on the claims process and deadlines.

What Happens Next

Both settlements are subject to court approval before any payments are distributed. If the courts grant final approval, class members who submit timely and valid claims will be considered for compensation. Individuals who do not wish to participate in a settlement may have the option to opt out and preserve their right to pursue independent legal action, or to object to the settlement terms — specific procedures for doing so will be outlined in the official class notice.

Settlement: Wellstar Health System Pixel Tracking Class Action Settlement

Court: To be confirmed via official settlement materials

Settlement Amount: Not publicly disclosed at time of publication

Claim Deadline: See official settlement website

Settlement Website: To be published by the settlement administrator

Settlement: Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital Operating Corporation (Cone Health) Pixel Tracking Class Action Settlement

Court: To be confirmed via official settlement materials

Settlement Amount: Not publicly disclosed at time of publication

Claim Deadline: See official settlement website

Settlement Website: To be published by the settlement administrator

Think you may qualify under one of these settlements? Monitor the official settlement websites for claim filing instructions and deadlines. Have questions about the process? Share them in the comments below.