Carpenters’ Health Plan Illegally Dodged Payment, Surgeon Says

A carpenter union’s employee benefits plan reneged payment on a spinal surgery and incorrectly claimed the procedure was subject to a law shielding patients from unexpected medical bills, a surgeon claimed in California federal court.

The lawsuit filed Thursday adds another legal twist to the No Surprises Act, which blocks providers from sending unexpected bills to patients for emergency care and procedures performed by out-of-network providers at in-network facilities. In this case, however, the out-of-network procedure was allegedly planned in advance.

The California Spine and Neurosurgery Institute, doing business as San Jose Neurospine, accused Carpenters Health and Welfare Trust Fund ...