J.C. Healing Touch Rehab, P.C. v Amica Mut. Ins. Co., 2014 NY Slip Op 50969(U)(App. Term 2d Dept. 2014)
“While the supporting affidavit by plaintiff’s billing agent established that plaintiff had mailed the claim forms in question to defendant, and that defendant had failed to pay those claims within the requisite 30-day period, the affidavit failed to demonstrate either that defendant had failed to deny the claims within the requisite 30-day period or that defendant had issued timely denial of claim forms which were conclusory, vague or without merit as a matter of law. As plaintiff failed to meet its initial burden of establishing its prima facie entitlement to judgment as a matter of law, plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment was properly denied (see Viviane Etienne Med. Care, P.C. v Country-Wide Ins. Co., 114 AD3d 33).”
The medical provider still needs to allege that it never received a denial, the denial was untimely, or the received denial is defective. Etienne did not change that part of Plaintiff’s prima facie case.