Davey v. Louisiana Health Serv. & Indem. Co.

357 So. 2d 1170
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedMay 5, 1978
Docket8743
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 357 So. 2d 1170 (Davey v. Louisiana Health Serv. & Indem. Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Davey v. Louisiana Health Serv. & Indem. Co., 357 So. 2d 1170 (La. Ct. App. 1978).

Opinion

357 So.2d 1170 (1978)

Candace J. DAVEY
v.
LOUISIANA HEALTH SERVICE & INDEMNITY COMPANY.

No. 8743.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Fourth Circuit.

January 11, 1978.
On Rehearing February 14, 1978.
On Rehearing March 14, 1978.
Writ Refused May 5, 1978.

Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere & Denegre, David W. Oestreicher, II, Warren M. Schultz, Jr., New Orleans, for defendant-appellant.

Arnold & Giepert, Richard J. Arnold, New Orleans, for plaintiff-appellee.

Before GULOTTA, BEER and BOWES, JJ.

Per Curiam On Rehearing February 14, 1978.

*1171 BEER, Judge.

Appellee Candace J. Davey, an employee of D. H. Holmes, Ltd., was an insured under the company's group health insurance policy administered by appellant, Louisiana Health Service & Indemnity Company, a/k/a Blue Cross of Louisiana (hereafter, "Blue Cross"). She underwent maxillofacial surgery performed by John Kent, D.D.S., an oral surgeon. Dr. Kent had previously diagnosed her condition as mandibular retrognathia (a lack of growth of the lower jaw) and maxilla hyperplasia (an overgrowth of the upper jaw). To correct this condition, Dr. Kent performed osteotomies, which required the controlled fracturing of the jaws and resetting, with a bone graft in the lower jaw. The surgery was performed under general anesthesia, in the course of which Dr. George Byram, an orthopedist, simultaneously removed a section of the patient's hip bone for the grafting.

Appellee made a claim for the expenses incurred, including Dr. Kent's bill of $2,450.00. Blue Cross made certain payments by reason of the basic coverage provided in the policy, but denied the bulk of her claim, including Dr. Kent's bill, citing the policy provision which provided:

"Article VI—Exclusions and Limitations No benefits shall be provided hereunder on account of:
* * * * * *
(5) Dental care and treatments, dental surgery or dental appliances unless such charges are made necessary within ninety (90) days after accidental bodily injury effected solely through external means and occurring while the Subscriber is covered hereunder and limited further to dental treatment of injuries from such accident to natural teeth, including replacement of such teeth and setting of a jaw fractured or dislocated in such accident. (MM-8.) (Emphasis ours.)"
And:
"Article II—Supplemental Definitions
* * * * * *
(F) PHYSICIAN—SURGEON means a duly licensed Medical Doctor (M.D.) legally entitled to practice medicine and surgery in the state in which the service is performed; engaged in the private practice of medicine; and who renders a charge to the Subscriber or Dependent for his professional service.
The term `Physician—Surgeon' does not include any intern, resident, fellow or others enrolled in a residency training program regardless of any other title by which he is designated or his position on the medical staff of the hospital. A senior resident, for example, who is referred to as an `assistant attending surgeon' or an `associate physician' is considered a resident since the senior year of the residency is essential to completion of the training program.
It is the specific intent and purpose of The Association to exclude reimbursement to the Subscriber for services rendered by an intern, resident, fellow or others enrolled in a residency training program regardless of whether the intern, resident, fellow or others was under the supervision of a physician or regardless of the circumstances under which services were rendered.
The term `Physician—Surgeon' does not include a practicing medical doctor in the capacity of supervising interns, residents, senior-residents, fellows, or others enrolled in a training program; and further, who does not personally perform a surgical procedure or medical treatment to the Subscriber or Dependents. (MM-4.)"

Davey's suit against the insurer resulted in an award for the full balance of her expenses (subject to $100 deductible and 80% coverage provision). In written reasons, the trial court held that although a Doctor of Dental Surgery had performed the operation, it could have been performed by a Medical Doctor and, did, in fact, require the simultaneous services of an orthopedic surgeon (M.D.). Thus, said the trial court, it was a procedure within the policy coverage.

Blue Cross appeals, contending that the terms of the policy clearly denied coverage. *1172 Appellee answers, seeking attorney's fees and a penalty, as provided by La. R.S. 22:657 (1950), but we find this demand to be without merit in view of the rationale of our opinion as hereinafter expressed.

The chronology of this case, as it relates to recent legislative action, must be addressed: By La. Acts 1974, No. 544, § 1, now codified as La. R.S. 22:213.1 (Supp. 1977), the legislature sought to prevent the refusal of insurance companies to pay claims for surgical procedures by dentists, providing as follows:

"§ 213.1 Applicability of policy to dental care
Whenever the terms `physician' or `medical doctor' are used in any accident and sickness policy, medical service plan, or other contract providing for the payment of surgical procedures which are specified in the policy or contract or are performed in an accredited hospital in consultation with a licensed physician and are within the scope of a dentist's professional license, said terms shall be construed to include a dentist, licensed under the laws of the state of Louisiana governing the practice of dentistry under Chapter 9, Title 37, Louisiana Revised Statutes, who performs such specified procedures. This section shall be applicable only with respect to policies delivered or issued for delivery in this state with an initial inception date on or after July 31, 1974; provided that whenever the carrier of said policy, plan, or contract provides for a dental program therewith, or by a supplementary policy, plan, or contract, then the payment of benefits for the surgical procedures mentioned hereinabove shall be made pursuant to the provisions of the dental program of said carrier."

The effective date of the supplemental agreement of the D. H. Holmes group insurance policy which provided for major medical coverage was September 1, 1969. The initial date of coverage for Candace J. Davey was July, 1973. Therefore, La. R.S. 22:213.1 cannot be here applied.

Equally clear to us—notwithstanding the trial court's written reasons—is the fact that if appellee is to recover, such recovery must be in spite of the clear definitional terms of the master policy.

With this in mind, we turn to the pertinent portion of the record, which indicates:

"Q. When you were working at D. H. Holmes were you given a policy or a copy of your insurance policy?
A. I was given a pamphlet like that (indicating).
Q. Is that the pamphlet that you received from them showing your coverage there?
A. Yes.
Q. And this is dated 4/1/75?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. And this is the insurance policy you had at that time? Is that the only policy that you were given at D. H. Holmes for Blue Cross?
A. That's right.
Q. This is the only indication of the coverage that you had at that time?

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357 So. 2d 1170, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/davey-v-louisiana-health-serv-indem-co-lactapp-1978.