Dynamic Med. Imaging, P.C. v New York Cent. Mut. Fire Ins. Co. (2010 NY Slip Op 52062(U))

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

APPELLATE TERM: 9th and 10th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS

Appeal from an order of the District Court of Nassau County, First District (Gary Franklin Knobel, J.), dated June 11, 2009. The order denied defendant’s motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint and, upon a search of the record, granted summary judgment to plaintiff.

ORDERED that the order is reversed, without costs, and defendant’s motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint is granted.

In this action by a provider to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits, defendant moved for summary judgment dismissing the complaint on the ground that the services rendered were not medically necessary. The District Court denied defendant’s motion, finding that defendant’s peer reviewer failed to set forth a sufficient medical rationale and factual basis for his conclusion that the services performed were not medically necessary, and, upon a search of the record, granted summary judgment to plaintiff. The instant appeal by defendant ensued.

In support of its motion, defendant submitted an affidavit of its no-fault litigation examiner, which demonstrated that defendant had timely mailed the denial of claim forms, which denied the claims on the ground of lack of medical necessity, in accordance with defendant’s standard office practices and procedures (see St. Vincent’s Hosp. of Richmond v Government Empls. Ins. Co., 50 AD3d 1123 [2008]; Residential Holding Corp. v Scottsdale Ins. Co., 286 AD2d 679 [2001]). Contrary to the conclusion of the District Court, we find that the affidavit of defendant’s chiropractor and his peer review report set forth a sufficient medical rationale and factual basis to demonstrate a lack of medical necessity for the services at issue (see Elmont Open MRI & Diagnostic Radiology, P.C. v State Farm Ins. Co., 27 Misc 3d 136[A], 2010 NY Slip Op 50829[U] [App Term, 9th & 10th Jud Dists 2010]; B.Y., M.D., P.C. v Progressive Cas. Ins. Co., 26 Misc 3d 135[A], 2010 NY Slip Op 50144[U] [App Term, 9th & 10th Jud Dists 2010]), so as to shift the burden to plaintiff to rebut defendant’s prima facie showing.

In opposition to defendant’s motion, plaintiff failed to submit any medical evidence sufficient to raise a triable issue of fact as to medical necessity (see Speciality Surgical Servs. v [*2]Travelers Ins. Co., 27 Misc 3d 134[A], 2010 NY Slip Op 50715[U] [App Term, 9th & 10th Jud Dists 2010]; A. Khodadadi Radiology, P.C. v NY Cent. Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 16 Misc 3d 131[A], 2007 NY Slip Op 51342[U] [App Term, 2d & 11th Jud Dists 2007]). Accordingly, the order is reversed and defendant’s motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint is granted.

Iannacci, J.P., Nicolai and Molia, JJ., concur.
Decision Date: November 26, 2010