Arkansas Hospitals Face Lawsuits After Refusing Insurance

Jessica Mounce of Lowell had health insurance, but Northwest Medical Center-Springdale wouldn’t accept it when she came to its emergency room in late 2013 after being rear-ended in an auto accident. Instead, the hospital filed a medical lien against the 24-year-old elementary school teacher in hopes of collecting $6,100 from the at-fault driver’s insurance rather than a fraction of that amount that Mounce’s insurance would have paid. Mounce, represented by Fayetteville attorney Shawn Daniels, sued the hospital in federal court last year. It turned out to be the first of at least four complaints in Arkansas challenging the growing and controversial practice of hospitals refusing to accept the health insurance of patients who have been injured by the actions of others. Plaintiffs’ attorneys say the hospitals are creating financial nightmares for injured patients in hopes of being paid higher list prices for services out of the patients’ settlements with the at-fault party rather than the discounted prices that health insurance companies have negotiated for policyholders. Mounce is seeking class-action certification for her complaint, which also names as defendants Northwest Arkansas Hospitals LLC and its collection company, Professional Account Services Inc. Her allegations include violations of the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and interfering with the contractual relationship between Mounce and her insurer, Arkansas Blue Cross & Blue...
Source: Arkansas Business - Health Care - Category: American Health Source Type: news