Many car accident victims seek medical care immediately after being involved in a crash. Unfortunately, since New Jersey’s legal system may be a little complex, the medical providers who treat these victims may be left confused about how to get paid for their medical services. In such a case, the medical providers and the insurance companies of the victims may resolve their disputes and collect owed compensation through a process known as PIP arbitration. These details can be tedious to keep track of so it’s best to find a lawyer who understands how the system works.
Who pays medical expenses for car accident victims?
Even though car accident victims are the ones who receive medical treatment, they are not usually the ones who are responsible for paying for the treatment. This is because New Jersey is a no-fault state and the injured seek compensation from their insurance provider. This means that the medical provider who treats the injured victim is also paid by the insurance company. However, sometimes the insurance company may take a very long time to pay the medical providers for the medical services rendered to the accident victims. Moreover, the insurance company may probe or question the need or value of the medical services rendered to the victims. In such a case, the medical providers may collect unpaid bills from the insurance company through the personal injury protection arbitration process.
How can medical providers ensure they receive payment?
Auto accident medical providers must meet New Jersey’s laws concerning personal injury protection insurance to make sure they are paid for all their services. For instance, they should ensure they are selling their services at a reasonable rate or as stipulated in the NJ PIP Fee Schedule. In addition, the medical providers need to ensure that the medical services are pre-Certified by the personal injury protection insurance provider. Furthermore, the providers must ensure the billing is submitted through approved codes and finally, a demand letter must be sent to begin the arbitration process.
What is the process for PIP Arbitration?
If you and your attorney have decided to pursue payment by going through the arbitration process, then the following things will take place. It’s important to understand what you are getting into and how a legal professional can help you throughout the process.
- Your lawyer will issue a demand letter as well as the filing fee to the insurance company.
- An in-person hearing will be scheduled by a Dispute Resolution Professional.
- You will then discuss your disagreements or complaints regarding the payment
- The DRP will then issue a ruling.
However, if you do not agree with the initial ruling that has been issued by the DRP, you may appeal with the NJ Superior Court. If you want the entire process of seeking payment to be successful, it is advisable to retain a lawyer who knows everything about Personal Injury Protection law. Having a competent legal professional on your side makes the whole process a lot easier. It can be tedious to keep track of these details yourself, so it’s best to let your lawyer do all that work for you.
Conclusion
If medical providers are having a tough time receiving payment from the patients’ insurance companies after treating accident victims, they can pursue payment through the legal process of PIP arbitration. However, they should retain a lawyer who will help them find out why they have not yet received payment for their services and then fight to collect the compensation for them. Having these details can help create a strong case that can be brought to court. Being represented by a lawyer who cares will help things move along smoothly. That’s why it is always suggested to do your research and find a law firm that works for you.