EDINA, Minn., Feb. 17 The Minnesota Chiropractic Association (MCA) today announced that it is supporting a class action law suit against the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association ("BCBSA") and a number of state BCBS entities.
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The suit challenges the Defendants' abusive practices in using post-payment audits and reviews, and improper repayment demands, to pressure doctors to repay substantial sums that have previously properly been paid as health insurance benefits for services provided to BCBS subscribers.
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The Crabtree Law Firm P.A., a Minnesota-based firm, is one of the nationwide law firms that joined with plaintiffs' lead counsel D. Brian Hufford of Pomerantz Haudek Grossman & Gross LLP in the case. Attorney and Doctor of Chiropractic, Todd Crabtree, states that "The Blue Cross and Blue Shield entities are alleging that chiropractic clinics have been overpaid and Blue Cross and Blue Shield has been unilaterally withholding provider payments. We allege that chiropractic clinics have not been provided with proper due process and that all the withheld funds should be returned."
The amount of funds that are at issue in the lawsuit are substantial. On June 30, 2009, the BCBSA announced that its National Anti-Fraud Department had "recovered nearly $350 million as a result of the anti-fraud investigations in 2008." "We believe most of this 'recovery' falls within the improper practices we are alleging in this action" explained Crabtree.
The MCA will be joining other associations across the country on behalf of a putative nationwide class of mostly chiropractors. Others in the lawsuit include the Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association, New York Chiropractic Council, Association of New Jersey Chiropractors, Florida Chiropractic Association and the California Chiropractic Association.
About Minnesota Chiropractic Association
Created in 1927, the Minnesota Chiropractic Association is the only professional organization in Minnesota that solely represents the chiropractic professional on a multi-level and integrated service basis.
ABOUT THE CRABTREE LAW FIRM P.A.
The Crabtree Law Firm P.A. is known as a national leader in advocating on behalf of chiropractors. For over 20 years Todd Crabtree DC JD MBA has provided assistance to chiropractors in compliance, board complaints and post payment audit defense. He currently assists several national chiropractic groups including: HealthSource (Ohio), Maximized Living (Florida),
ProPractice Partners (Arizona) and LaunchU (Illinois). He can be reached at the Crabtree Law Firm
P.A. website www.CrabtreeLawyers.com.
ABOUT POMERANTZ HAUDEK GROSSMAN & GROSS LLP
Pomerantz Haudek, which has offices in New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Columbus, Ohio and the San Francisco Bay area, is acknowledged as one of the premier plaintiff class action firms, and, in particular, has been a leader in the industry in health care class actions on behalf of providers and patients. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz Haudek pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 70 years later, Pomerantz Haudek continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members.
SOURCE Minnesota Chiropractic Association
