Flight for Life has flown car-crash victims, premature babies and adults with breathing difficulties to hospitals across southeastern Wisconsin over the past two years. Anthem covered dozens of the patients but has not paid the air ambulance company $2.1 million for their helicopter rides.
The outstanding payments range from $9,382 to $62,373 per flight. Flight for Life’s executive director, Leif Erickson, said Anthem had historically paid its bills before abruptly stopping late last year.
The dispute comes amid wider tensions over a 2022 law intended to protect patients from surprise medical bills. The law directs arbitrators to determine appropriate reimbursement, prompting millions of disputes between healthcare providers and insurers. Doctors have won most arbitration cases, with some settlements substantially exceeding insurers’ usual rates.
Sources: The New York Times Business.