Workers’ Compensation Double-Billing in Florida
The average job injury-related medical bill in Florida exceeds $40,000. Most group health plans exclude injury-related costs, and most families can’t afford to pay these bills out of pocket. Workers’ compensation usually covers medical expenses, and workers’ compensation medical bill double-billing threatens this important benefit.
Injured workers are entitled to other benefits as well, such as lost wage replacement. But these entitlements are only ink on paper unless a determined Tampa workers’ compensation lawyer enforces them. Maximum compensation in job injury cases enables victims to get back on the job as soon as possible. In the end, that’s the outcome that everyone wants. Obstacles to such compensation, such as double-billing, hurt everyone.
Covered Medical Expenses
The aforementioned $40k figure usually includes start-to-finish medical expenses. Specific categories of covered expenses include:
- Transportation: Many severe injuries, such as a life-threatening fall from a high place, often require medevac helicopter transportation. A short helicopter ride could cost more than $40,000. Surface ambulance transportation isn’t that expensive, but it isn’t free either.
- Emergency Care: Many severe injury victims cannot physically tolerate invasive and aggressive procedures. Therefore, doctors must spread emergency treatment over several procedures. Alternatively, unforeseen complications often arise that force victims to go back to the operating table.
- Physical Therapy: The law recently changed on this point. Previously, job injury victims only had a few weeks to recover, then they lost their benefits. Now, workers’ compensation in Florida lasts up to 104 weeks (two years). Therefore, job injury victims recover at their own pace.
- Ancillary Expenses: Medical devices and especially prescription drugs are usually a necessary component of the treatment and recovery process. Since most people only pay insurance-reduced prices for their medications, most people don’t realize how expensive prescription drugs are.
Workers’ comp covers all these expenses, if the costs were reasonably necessary. Frequently, a Tampa workers’ compensation lawyer partners with an independent doctor who reviews the records and testified that the expenses were indeed reasonably necessary.
Fair Debt Collection Issues
Medical expense double billing is a very common issue in workers’ compensation matters. These disputes usually revolve around the insurance reimbursement amount and out-of-pocket amount.
The aforementioned prescription drugs are a good example. The insurance price of a painkiller refill might be $100, and the out-of-pocket expense might be $1,000. A pharmacy might bill the workers’ compensation insurance company $100, and send the victim a bill for the remaining $900. The same issues apply to diagnostic tests, surgeries, office visits, and other medical services.
Florida has an unusual solution to this common problem. The Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act prohibits deceptive and harassing conduct, such as workers’ compensation double billing. Significantly, the FCCPA also applies to first-party creditors, such as hospitals and clinics, in addition to third-party debt buyers. Furthermore, FCCPA claimants are entitled to punitive damages.
Money damages are also available under the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Both laws include a private right of action, enabling a Tampa workers’ compensation lawyer to act without waiting for government bureaucrats to do something.
Reach Out to a Diligent Hillsborough County Lawyer
Injury victims are entitled to important financial benefits. For a confidential consultation with an experienced job injury lawyer in Tampa, contact Kobal Law. After hours visits are available.
Source:
injuryfacts.nsc.org/work/costs/work-injury-costs/
