Carrier That Short-Changed Doctor for Treatment of Worker Liable Under Contract Law

The Iowa Court of Appeals ruled that a doctor who was short-changed by an insurance carrier was entitled to payment of the full amount of his bill and nothing more. A jury found Society Insurance had breached its contract with Dr. Robert Milas by authorizing his fee for the surgery he performed, then paying him a fraction of his bill. However, the court said the carrier and its claims adjuster had not made any fraudulent misrepresentations as to the carrier’s willingness to pay the doctor, and that punitive damages were not warranted. Milas became the authorized treating provider for R...