PORTLAND, Ore. (Legal Newsline) – A legal entity is alleged to overbill Oregon Medicare patients after they settle car accident claims in violation of Medicare rules.
Donald Griffith filed a complaint on Oct. 26 in the U.S. District Court of Oregon, Portland Division against PeaceHealth alleging breach of contract, breach of duty of good faith and fair dealings and unjust enrichment.
According to the complaint, on Nov. 30, 2015, the suit states Griffith was injured in a car accident and he received Medicare-covered injury related medical services from PeaceHealth, which elected not to bill Medicare. He alleges PeaceHealth overbilled him $14,574 after he settled his car accident claim in October 2017.
On March 7, Griffith alleges he disputed that PeaceHealth was entitled to the funds and provided legal authority as to why it was not.
"PeaceHealth, however, refused to correct its billings and continued to maintain that Mr. Griffith owed $14,574. On April 23, 2018, Mr. Griffith paid the bill under protest," the complaint states.
The plaintiff holds PeaceHealth responsible because the defendant allegedly breached its agreement by wrongfully and unfairly collecting an amount in violation of federal Medicare regulations.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks for fair compensation, maximum statutory damages and penalties, reimbursed fees and costs, maximum prejudgment and post-judgment interest, and other further relief the court may find just. He is represented by Michael Fuller of OlsenDaines in Portland, Oregon and others.
U.S. District Court of Oregon Portland Division case number 3:18-cv-01882-AC