Freedom Medical Supply v. State Farm

From 2010 to 2012, Appellant Freedom Medical Supply, Inc. (“Freedom”), provided electrical muscle stimulators (“EMSs”) and portable whirlpools to automobile accident victims covered by Appellee State Farm Fire and Casualty Company and/or State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (collectively, “State Farm”). Notably, although Freedom purchased these items for relatively little cost, it applied significant markups. As found by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania herein, Freedom purchased the EMSs for approximately $20 to $30 each, yet charged approximately $1,525 to $1,600 each, and purchased the whirlpools for approximately $40 each, yet charged approximately $525 each. Because neither the EMSs nor portable whirlpools have a federally-determined Medicare fee, Freedom sought reimbursement from State Farm for 80% of the foregoing charges. State Farm denied Freedom's claims, and the district court ultimately agreed with State Farm when Freedom filed suit. Freedom appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, which, noting that no Pennsylvania court or agency has addressed the question, sought to certify to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The question presented was: "[m]ay an insurer use methods not specifically identified in [the Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law (MVFRL)] to calculate the 'usual and customary' charge for devices and services not listed on the Medicare Fee Schedule for purposes of determining the amount to be paid to providers of those devices and services?" In answer to the question submitted, the Supreme Court held that Section 69.43(c) of the MVFRL permitted, but did not require, that reimbursements be calculated predicated on the provider’s bill for services or the data collected by the carrier. View "Freedom Medical Supply v. State Farm" on Justia Law