Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Broward Health filed a lawsuit against Florida Blue and its HMO due to alleged underpayments for emergency department services, according to an April 7 state court complaint.
Broward Health has been out of network for Florida Blue since July 2025, affecting commercial, ACA and Medicare Advantage members’ access to its hospitals and physicians.
The complaint focuses on commercial payments and said the matter implicates over $750,000, exclusive of interest, attorney fees and costs. The lawsuit alleges statutory violations by Florida Blue and its HMO.
The health system said it documented emergency claims with services dated from July 1, 2025, through January 31, 2026, but that the claims were “unlawfully underpaid” and “continue to accrue.”
Broward Health is seeking compensatory damages, interest and costs, along with a declaratory judgment to establish out-of-network reimbursement rates for the health system’s emergency care.
UnitedHealthcare was subject to similar ED-focused lawsuits in 2025, including one from San Antonio, Texas-based Baptist Health System and 17 HCA hospitals in Florida.
Florida Blue declined Becker’s request for comment.
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