K.M. et al v. Regence Blue Shield et al

Case Summary: 13-cv-01214

The named Plaintiffs filed this class action against Defendant Regence Blue Shield, a registered health insurance carrier in the State of Washington. Plaintiffs are children enrolled through their parents in health plans underwritten and administered by Defendant. Plaintiffs received neurodevelopment therapy for treatment of autism and sought reimbursement for the costs from Defendant. Defendant rejected these insurance claims, stating that Plaintiffs’ health care plans do not provide coverage for neurodevelopment therapy after the insured beneficiary is seven years of age or older.

Plaintiffs brought this action on July 11, 2013 for relief under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), a federal law which governs the health care plans at issue. Shortly thereafter, they filed motions for a preliminary injunction to cease Defendant’s exclusion of neurodevelopmental therapy services from its ERISA plans and to certify a class of individuals that have been or will be injured by Defendant’s exclusion of similar health services. This video shows the hearing on both of Plaintiffs’ motions, which the court subsequently granted.

Case Highlights

• Complaint filed 7/11/2013 (Doc #1)
• Motion for Preliminary Injunction filed by Plaintiffs 8/01/2013 (Doc #17)
• Motion to Certify Class filed by Plaintiffs 08/01/2013 (Doc #20)
• Hearing on Plaintiffs’ motions 1/22/2014 (Doc #50)
• Court granted both of Plaintiffs’ motions 1/24/2014 (Doc #51)

Case-related documents, including those referenced above, are available via the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) service. For more information, visit Pacer.gov.