An out-of-network reimbursement dispute that produced a $72,000 federal Independent Dispute Resolution award against UnitedHealthcare has moved into the New York State Supreme Court, New York County, after the award went unpaid for months. CollectionPro Services LLC, a specialist in out-of-network reimbursement and IDR, says the case illustrates a critical gap between winning an arbitration determination and actually collecting the money.
The underlying dispute involved CPT 19318. According to CollectionPro, UnitedHealthcare submitted an offer of $0, while the provider submitted an offer of $72,000. On February 18, 2026, the designated IDR entity selected the provider's full $72,000 offer and declared the provider the prevailing party. The determination required any amount due to be paid within the applicable 30-calendar-day period. Despite repeated reminders and demands, the award remained unpaid, prompting the provider to seek enforcement under CPLR Article 75 in the matter identified as Notice of Petition Jason Weissler v. United Healthcare, Index No.: 652776/2026.
The petition seeks payment of the $72,000 IDR award, along with statutory interest, the IDR entity fee, associated costs and disbursements, and any other appropriate relief. CollectionPro provided strategic guidance and active support as the matter moved beyond a conventional IDR victory into post-award enforcement.
"Providers should not have to assume that their work is finished simply because they received a favorable IDR determination," said David Nissanoff, spokesperson for CollectionPro. "The real objective is not just to win arbitration. It is to pursue the reimbursement the provider has been awarded. When payment remains unresolved after a favorable determination, providers need to understand what options may be available for the next stage of recovery."
The case matters for out-of-network providers across the country because it highlights an operational and financial risk that persists even after a favorable decision. CollectionPro's approach spans the recovery lifecycle, including open negotiation, IDR strategy, evidence development, IDR determination, award tracking, and post-award escalation and enforcement support. That end-to-end model is particularly relevant as providers navigate an increasingly specialized reimbursement environment under the No Surprises Act.
CollectionPro reports more than 10,000 out-of-network arbitrations filed and a 92% success rate. Its model includes advancing applicable arbitration costs and charging providers only following successful recovery. For providers, the practical implication is that an IDR award should be treated as a milestone rather than a final payment guarantee. Monitoring and enforcing awards may be necessary to secure the reimbursement that was won.
The company's broader services include payer negotiations, appeals, IDR support, aged accounts receivable, and post-award collections. More information is available at CollectionPro.
