The Florida Supreme Court is ready to wade into a dispute between State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance and a major Jacksonville hospital about contracts and other documents that contain detailed information about how much the hospital charges for services.
State Farm began a legal battle with Shands Jacksonville Medical Center in an attempt to get information, including copies of contracts between the hospital and health insurers. Under the state’s personal-injury protection, or PIP, auto-insurance system, State Farm pays the hospital to care for accident victims. It contends the requested information could show whether the hospital is charging excessive amounts for PIP-related care.
