Insurance Law
Resource Categories
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Washington Court Allows Reduced PIP Payments to Healthcare Providers
The Washington Supreme Court Decides Insurers Can Use Database to Reduce PIP Payments to Healthcare Providers A February 15, 2024 Washington State Supreme Court decision has sent shockwaves through legal and healthcare communities. The case,…
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Washington State Expands Health Care Coverage to Undocumented Residents
Under the federal government’s Affordable Care Act, undocumented immigrants are prohibited from purchasing health care coverage through state exchanges. These exchanges were set up under the Act to allow patients who needed to purchase their…
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Is Underinsured/Uninsured Motorist Coverage Really Necessary?
Should every motor vehicle on Washington state roads have auto insurance that includes protection from bad drivers that don’t have their own auto insurance at all, or from bad drivers that haven’t bought enough insurance…
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Car-Sharing in Seattle: Is it Safe?
Almost everyone is now familiar with “ride-share” companies, such as Uber or Lyft; the convenient service of hiring personal drivers in their personal cars, presumably trained by professional ride-sharing companies and offering professional level insurance…
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The Plaintiff’s Right to Change Attorneys
Even after a plaintiff has hired an attorney, it’s the plaintiff’s right to fire them. It’s an interesting situation that gives rise to some questions, such as: (1) Who has the right to possession of…
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Supreme Court Overrules Insurers Denial of Personal Injury Protection
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is intended to protect victims of motor vehicle collisions by covering medical expenses, lost wages, household services and funeral costs under an automobile insurance policy. It applies to any occupant…
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Prior Authorization from Health Insurers
Patients and providers in Washington State recently won an important victory against health insurance companies, by reducing a frustrating and time-consuming restriction when accessing needed medical care. This victory is in the form of legislation…
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Clarifying the HITECH Act and Answers to Frequent Questions
Following our recent article on the HITECH Act, we have received lots of questions about the federal HITECH Act and how it applies in Washington State for healthcare providers responding to patient requests for electronic…
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The Rise of Artificial Intelligence in Insurance Claims Handling
Recovering from a traumatic injury is often a slow process that unfolds in ways patients often can’t anticipate. The full extent of an injury, or the effectiveness of treatment might not be fully known for…
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Runaway Juries and Frivolous Lawsuits
Proponents of tort reform and mandatory caps on damage awards (insurance companies and their lobbyists) frequently claim that the civil justice system in the United States is broken as a result of abuse by individuals…
