Pennsylvania, N.J. Chiropractors Sue Independence Blue Cross.Independence Blue Gross, Philadelphia, and its subsidiaries face a lawsuit seeking class-action status on behalf of a Pennsylvania organization representing chiropractors. The Pennsylvania Chiropractic chiropractic (kīrəprăk`tĭk) [Gr.,=doing by hand], medical practice based on the theory that all disease results from a disruption of the functions of the nerves. Association, which represents about 1,500 chiropractors in Pennsylvania, filed suit in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas COURT OF COMMON PLEAS. The name of an English court which was established on the breaking up of the aula regis, for the determination of pleas merely civil. It was at first ambulatory, but was afterwards located. , alleging that Independence and its subsidiaries improperly denied needed chiropractic care to subscribers to maximize profits, the association said in a statement. About 250 of the association's members are participating providers with Independence, the association said. The suit charges that Independence established a precertification process aimed at "discouraging or denying coverage for chiropractic services." "Earlier this year, after an exhaustive review, the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission/URAC awarded Independence Blue Cross a certificate of accreditation for its utilization management Utilization management is the evaluation of the appropriateness, medical need and efficiency of health care services procedures and facilities according to established criteria or guidelines and under the provisions of an applicable health benefits plan. program, which includes utilization management for chiropractic services," Independence spokesman Chris Rathke said in a statement. The Southern New Jersey Chiropractic Society, four individual doctors of chiropractic and two former health-plan subscribers joined the association in filing the suit. Named in the suit are Independence Blue Cross and nine for-profit subsidiaries: AmeriHealth Inc.; Keystone Health Plan East Inc.; AmeriHealth HMO HMO health maintenance organization. HMO n. A corporation that is financed by insurance premiums and has member physicians and professional staff who provide curative and preventive medicine within certain financial, Inc.; Healthcare Delaware Inc.; American Health American Health Inc. is a company that manufactures health supplements. It is located in Holbrook, New York. One of its products is labeled the "Chewable Original Papaya Enzyme" with the attached registered trademark, "The 'After Meal Supplement'". Alternatives; AmeriHealth Insurance Co.; QCC QCC Queensborough Community College (New York) QCC Quality Core Curriculum QCC Qwest Communications Corporation QCC Quinsigamond Community College (Worcester, MA) QCC Quality Control Circle Insurance Co.; Vista Health Plan Inc.; and AmeriHealth Administrators. |
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