Publix has stopped paying health care firms who provide therapy for its workers’ children who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, according to a lawsuit filed in Broward County.
Publix and a health care firm that provides therapy for autistic children are locked in a multimillion-dollar legal battle over unpaid medical bills for children of Publix workers.
ABA Cares sued the Florida grocer on Aug. 25 on behalf of 10 Publix workers whose children have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Its lawsuit, filed in Broward County, states that Publix has refused to pay medical bills since October despite pre-authorizing therapy sessions through its self-funded health insurance plan.
Publix countersued the health provider in federal court, accusing it of a scheme to defraud its health plan out of $15 million. Instead of collecting patients’ portion of the cost of therapy, the lawsuit states, it did not charge them and compensated by overbilling Publix…