The dispute between two imaging centers fighting to remain part of an Oregon preferred provider network took another turn this week when the centers abandoned a request to prevent the network from kicking them out, and instead asked for an expedited trial in the case.
Diagnostic imaging centers Body Imaging Radiology and EPIC Imaging of Portland had filed a request for a preliminary injunction against Providence Health Systems, also of Portland, in an effort to stop Providence from dropping them from its insurance panels. Providence announced earlier this year it was terminating its contracts with the centers and shifting its imaging to its own facilities.
Body Imaging and EPIC withdrew their request for an injunction on June 13 after receiving "hundreds of pages of material" from Providence on the network's share of the Portland market, a key point of contention in the case. The centers believe that the material understates Providence's actual percentage of the market, but said their attorneys would not have adequate time to analyze the documents in the two weeks allotted for review.
Instead, the centers are requesting a trial date in late fall this year, and are advocating that the hearing currently scheduled for June 20 be used to establish discovery and dispositive motion deadlines, as well as the expedited trial date. The down side for the centers is that Providence is now free to terminate them from the insurance panels, the centers said.
By AuntMinnie.com staff writers
June 16, 2005
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