Defense Attorney: Med-Legal Services an Emerging Source of Friction

A Northern California defense attorney says a new source of litigation is emerging throughout the state over what qualifies as a medical-legal service. Medical-legal service providers are not required to file liens for disputed bills, so they can pursue payment without having to deal with filing fees created by Senate Bill 863 or the declaration requirement imposed by Senate Bill 1160. Some disputes are eligible for independent bill review. If the case involves so-called “threshold issues” that disqualify it from bill review, it goes through a non-IBR medical-legal ...