Dennis Pasquel vs. The Boeing Company, ACE American Insurance Company, Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc.

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board overturned a judge's decision and allowed a lien for medical treatment provided by Dr. Powers at Griffin Medical Group. The Board found that while Dr. Powers was listed in the employer's Medical Provider Network (MPN) at a specific facility, there was no explicit restriction in the MPN listing prohibiting him from treating patients elsewhere. The Board concluded that contract disputes between a physician and an MPN provider should not prevent payment for medically necessary treatment when the MPN itself acknowledged the physician as a provider. This decision allows Griffin Medical Group to be paid for Dr. Powers' services rendered at their facility.