The Ohio Supreme Court recently ruled in the case of King v ProMedica Health System, Inc, that hospitals and medical providers can now bill the individual’s auto medical payments coverage instead of their hospitalization coverage. The law in Ohio under R.C. 1751.60(A) provides that the health care provider that contracts with a health insurance company shall seek compensation solely from the health insurance and not the individual enrollee. In reversing the opinion of the Sixth District Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court rewrote the statutory language and held that the hospital may now collect an asset of the patient paid for through his or her automobile insurance policy, and is not solely limited to the patient’s health insurance. Previously, the patient could use these monies to pay co-payments, deductibles, or for treatment options excluded from health insurance coverage. Does a separation of powers guaranteed by the Constitution truly exist in the State of Ohio, or does ‘big-business’ rule?
Please visit the Supreme Court link for a copy of the Opinion: http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/rod/docs/pdf/0/2011/2011-Ohio-4200.pdf