Washington State Medical Association Joins Federal Litigation Against MultiPlan and Insurers

The Washington State Medical Association (WSMA) has joined a federal multidistrict litigation against MultiPlan and major insurers, including UnitedHealth, Elevance, Humana, Aetna, and Cigna. The lawsuit alleges that these parties have conspired to systematically underpay physicians for reimbursements for out-of-network services. The WSMA joins the American Medical Association (AMA) and hundreds of physician practices and facilities nationwide in this growing antitrust litigation.

According to WSMA President John Bramhall, MD, PhD, "For many years, physicians in Washington state have been forced to accept increasingly insufficient reimbursements for providing health care to out-of-network patients." The lawsuit seeks to end MultiPlan's alleged anticompetitive scheme and recoup financial damages for physicians and practices.

Key Takeaways:

• The Washington State Medical Association has joined a federal multidistrict litigation against MultiPlan, a company that processes more than 80% of all commercial out-of-network reimbursement claims in the United States.
• The lawsuit alleges that MultiPlan and major insurers have conspired to systematically underpay physicians for reimbursements for out-of-network services.
• The lawsuit seeks to end MultiPlan's alleged anticompetitive scheme that it has operated since at least 2015 and recoup financial damages for physicians and practices.
• The WSMA joins the American Medical Association (AMA) and hundreds of physician practices and facilities nationwide in this growing antitrust litigation.
• Physicians who believe they have been harmed by MultiPlan and the insurance companies can obtain a free case evaluation from one of the law firms appointed by the court to lead the non-class claims.
• The WSMA represents approximately 13,500 physicians, resident physicians, physician assistants, and medical students across all specialties and practice types in Washington state.
• The WSMA has advocated on behalf of the house of medicine for over 135 years.

Statistics:

• 80%: This is the percentage of all commercial out-of-network reimbursement claims in the United States that MultiPlan processes as of 2024.
• 135 years: This is the number of years the WSMA has advocated on behalf of the house of medicine.
• 13,500: This is the number of physicians, resident physicians, physician assistants, and medical students that the WSMA represents across all specialties and practice types in Washington state.

Sources:

• Washington State Medical Association
• Reuters: "Washington State Medical Association Joins Litigation Against MultiPlan"
• Agg.com: "Washington State Medical Association v. MultiPlan Inc."
• Contify.com: "WSMA Joins Lawsuit Against MultiPlan"