The California Court of Appeal has held that a claim against a health care insurer that is violated California Health and Safety Code Section 1371.4 (“Section 1371.4”) is not preempted by ERISA. In Coast Plaza Doctors Hospital v. Blue Cross of Calif., 2009 WL 1272631 (Cal. App. 2nd Dist. May 11, 2009), Coast Plaza Doctors Hospital (“Coast Plaza”) provided emergency care to a patient who was enrolled in a group health plan insured by Blue Cross of California (“Blue Cross”). Coast Plaza was an “out-of-network” provider because it did not contract with Blue Cross to provide services to Blue Cross plan participants or beneficiaries. Coast Plaza billed Blue Cross over $580,000 in costs incurred to provide emergency care to the patient. Blue Cross refused to pay the bill, contending that Coast Plaza did not submit sufficient information to demonstrate that the services were rendered in connection with a medical emergency.

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