Northstar Healthcare's Houston Facility Settles Payor Dispute

Houston-based Northstar Healthcare announced that its The Palladium for Surgery-Houston facility settled a dispute with one of its largest payors, a major private health insurance provider, according to a Northstar news release.

As part of the resolution, both parties have signed a Settlement Agreement under which Palladium-Houston and the payor have agreed to release each other from any past or present claims related to the dispute, according to the release.

"This announcement is the culmination of extended discussions covering a number of issues and represents a complete resolution to all elements of the dispute," said Steve Linehan, CEO of Northstar, said in the release. "In particular, I'm pleased to report that Palladium-Houston has been released from any potential claims — past or present — related to the disputed payments."

Northstar has also entered into a Facility Participation Agreement with the payor, which means surgical procedures performed at Palladium-Houston will be reimbursed at agree-upon rates by the payor, according to the release. The three-year contract is effective Dec. 1, 2009, and is extendible beyond the period.

Palladium-Houston and the payor have also agreed that the payor will adjudicate previously billed, unpaid claims at agreed in-network rates, excluding claims billed for procedures performed by Exclusive Use physicians, according to the release.

Read the release about the payor dispute settlement with Palladium-Houston.