Relying On Review Lacking Records Was Abuse Of Discretion, Panel Agrees

Mealey's (April 22, 2022, 12:53 PM EDT) -- RICHMOND, Va. — Ruling that trustees of a health plan governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act abused their discretion in part by relying on an independent medical review (IMR) for which the plan had not provided relevant medical records, a Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeal panel on April 20 affirmed a grant of summary judgment to the claimant and a lower court’s outright award of benefits....