Premier Consolidation

Heggeness, Sweet, Simington & Patrico, A P.C. is serving as joint lead counsel in the $70 million 2004 WCAB consolidation proceeding in Van Nuys relating to Premier Medical Management Systems, Inc. 

See Case Outline.

Premier sought to obtain maximum profits from workers’ compensation cases through the provision of Premier controlled medical, chiropractic, and physical therapy services together with all ancillary services such as interpreting, transportation, durable medical equipment, prescription medications, and ambulatory surgery centers.  The Premier business enterprise consists of a highly complex network of providers seeking to profit from Los Angeles area workers’ compensation cases primarily involving Hispanic employees who have sustained relatively minor strains and sprains. 

Even though Premier is not licensed to practice medicine, chiropractic, or physical therapy, Premier executives allegedly manage and control all aspects of the network in exchange for kickbacks and fee splits.  Defendants contend Premier would retain 50% to 85% of provider payments. Defendants also contend the provided services are not medically necessary based upon any nationally recognized evidence based peer reviewed guideline or protocol.  The bills themselves are allegedly upcoded and medical legal reports are allegedly created and edited by Premier which affixes physician signature stamps to the reports. 

Premier attempted to derail the WCAB consolidation by a retaliatory civil RICO lawsuit against the WCAB defendants.  HSSP was part of the successful civil defense team which obtained a dismissal as a SLAPP suit for which defendants have obtained judgments against the Premier plaintiffs for attorney fees and costs.  (See Premier Med. Mgt. Systems, Inc. v. California Ins. Guarantee Assn. (2006) 136 Cal.App.4th 464 [71 Cal. Comp. Cases 210] and Premier Med. Mgt. Systems, Inc. v. California Ins. Guarantee Assn. (May 30, 2008) ___ Cal.App.4th  ___.) 

Criminal search warrants relating to Premier became public on May 9, 2008.