Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Jul 25, 2023
Orthopedic Ambulatory Surgery Center of Chesterfield, LLC, and Chesterfield Spine Center, LLC, Appellants, vs. Sharpe Holdings, Inc., et al., Respondents.
Orthopedic Ambulatory Surgery Center of Chesterfield, LLC, and Chesterfield Spine Center, LLC, health care providers, sued numerous employers and their workers' compensation insurers for unpaid medical charges. The providers asserted common law claims after receiving partial payment for care rendered under the Missouri Workers' Compensation Act. The trial court granted summary judgment for the employers and insurers, finding the Act provides an exclusive remedy for such disputes. The appellate court affirmed, holding that the Act's provisions and associated regulations exclusively govern medical fee disputes, thereby preempting common law claims.