Judge Finds Complex Inquiry Into Medical Rights Assignment Requires Discovery

Mealey's (September 1, 2017, 2:30 PM EDT) -- TRENTON, N.J. — Because it requires a “Russian-nesting-doll-like” inquiry, further discovery is required into whether a surgical spine center’s bills were assignable under an insurance policy’s “eligible charges” provision, a federal judge in New Jersey held Aug. 22 while rejecting claims that the provider failed to exhaust administrative remedies and seeks duplicative relief (University Spine Center, et al. v. Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, et al., No. 16-9253, D. N.J., 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 134021)....