The Florida Chiropractic Association has retained class counsel to pursue litigation in the Illinois class action suit vs. Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. The FCA joins with three other state associations – the Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association, New York Chiropractic Council and the Association of New Jersey Chiropractors – to challenge the Defendants’ abusive practices in using post-payment audits and reviews, and improper repayment demands, to pressure providers to repay substantial sums that have previously properly been paid as health insurance benefits for services provided to BCBS subscribers. Below is a news release provided by class counsel – Pomerantz Haudek Grossman & Gross LLP – to initially announce the litigation on September 10, 2009 (“Health Care Providers and Associations Sue Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and 22 Related BCBS Entities”).
(From an ACA Legislative Alert dated October 14, 2009 at 4:36pm) Please be advised that Representative Mike Ross (D-Arkansas) prominent leader of the House “Blue Dog” Coalition of centrist Democrats, is sending a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, urging that the final version of national health reform legislation to be brought to the floor of the U.S. House for a vote, retain an amendment agreed to in the House Energy & Commerce Committee that seeks to preserve the applicability of state enacted provider non-discrimination laws favorable to chiropractic and other non-MD providers.
The Florida Chiropractic Association is considering joining a class action against Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida and other BCBS entities to challenge the manner in which it has conducted post-payment audits and imposed withholds after demanding repayments. As part of this effort, we are investigating how our members have been adversely affected by these practices. Please contact the FCA Assistant General Counsel if:
(From an American Chiropractic Association News Release – October 2, 2009 – Arlington, Va.) – After months of intensive negotiations between the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) and Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA), doctors of chiropractic are once again designated as “physicians” in the BCBSA Federal Employee Plan (FEP), the world’s largest health plan and one that President Obama has identified as a template for future health care reform. The 2010 FEP benefits brochure confirms the change.
The FCA has filed an objection to the Progressive Class Action Settlement previously reported and is attending the Fairness Hearing on November 13, 2009 in Tampa, Florida to represent your interests. However, WE NEED YOUR HELP.
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