Court of Appeals Decides Dispute Between Provider and Carrier Over Workers' Compensation Medical Payments
United Fire and Casualty v. Cedars Sinai Medical Center , No. 15-1769 (Iowa App. Dec. 21, 2016) address an issue not commonly before the courts - the reasonable costs of medical care. The hospital in this case charged more than $3 million in medical fees for treatment of an injured construction worker. The insurer filed an action under section 85.27(3) arguing that the commissioner erred in selecting the medical-fee reviewer, refusing to allow United Fire to submit certain evidence and accepting certain filings from Cedars Sinai. United Fire also alleges that Cedars Sinai did not have standing and that there was a accord and satisfaction. Because United Fire failed to preserve error and cannot show the medical fee dispute process should be repeated, the commissioner's action and action of the district court is affirmed. Following claimant's over 100 day stay in the hospital, the hospital, through a third party notified the agency of its intent to use the ...