Hospital says jail system hasn't paid for services

HUNTINGTON - Cabell Huntington Hospital has filed a lawsuit against the regional jail, seeking more than $177,000 in unpaid services.

Attorney Todd Biddle filed a lawsuit Feb. 22 in Cabell Circuit Court against the West Virginia Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority. Wyetta Fredericks, the executive director and chief executive officer of the authority is also named as a defendant.

According to the suit, the jail and the hospital had entered into a contract for medical care for inmates. According to the suit, the jail authority and PrimeCare were in a contract that made PrimeCare responsible to the inmate's health care provider for the first $5,000 per individual inmate illness or injury for any consecutive twelve-month period.

"Any and all amount exceeding said sum in any consecutive twelve-month period are the financial responsibility of the authority," the suit says.

Between May 2004 and April 2005, Cabell Huntington diagnosed and treated at least 42 inmates from the Western Jail Facility, the suit says.

The hospital claims all the diagnostic services and resulting treatment were non-elective, reasonable and necessary in the 42 instances.

The total cost of resulting treatments was $230,313.31. According to the suit, PrimeCare paid Cabell Huntington $53,168 for its services. However, the hospital is still owed $177,145.31 for its care and treatment of the inmates, the suit says.

Therefore, Cabell Huntington Hospital seeks $177,145.31 for the medical care and services provided to the inmates.

The case has been assigned to Judge John L. Cummings.

Cabell Circuit Court case number 08-C-147