Anthem Health Plans Must Defend Payments in Virginia State Court

Anthem Health Plans of Virginia Inc. failed to secure federal court review of a lawsuit by emergency medical provider groups that say the insurer repeatedly and significantly underpaid them for emergency services.

The provider groups’ sole remaining claim against Anthem—which seeks payment for services rendered under the equitable theory of quantum meruit—isn’t preempted by the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act and therefore doesn’t belong in federal court, Judge M. Hannah Lauck of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia said in a Monday opinion remanding the lawsuit to state court.

The groups, led by Western Virginia ...