Opinion ID: 4188371
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Jackson’s Claims Against CCC

Text: We review de novo a judgment on the pleadings granted pursuant to Rule 12(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, using the same standard as applies to a review of a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6). Rogers Miller Music, Inc. v. Sony/ATV Publ’g, LLC, 477 F.3d 383, 389 (6th Cir. 2007). “For purposes of a motion for judgment on the pleadings, all well-pleaded material allegations of the pleadings of the opposing party must be taken as true, and the motion may be granted only if the moving party is nevertheless clearly entitled to judgment.” S. Ohio Bank v. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc., 479 F.2d 478, 480 (6th Cir. 1973). But we “need not accept as true legal conclusions or unwarranted factual inferences.” Mixon v. Ohio, 193 F.3d 389, 400 (6th Cir. 1999). A Rule 12(c) motion “is granted when no material issue of fact exists and the party making the motion is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Paskvan v. City of Cleveland Civil Serv. Comm’n, 946 F.2d 1233, 1235 (6th Cir. 1991). Jackson contends that CCC is subject to Ohio Rev. Code § 1751.60. Ohio Rev. Code § 1751.60(A) provides: [E]very provider or health care facility that contracts with a health insuring corporation to provide health care services to the health insuring corporation’s enrollees or subscribers shall seek compensation for covered services solely from the health insuring corporation and not, under any circumstances, from the enrollees or subscribers, except for approved copayments and deductibles. No. 16-4171 Jackson v. Professional Radiology, et al. Page 4 Based on this plain language, in order for CCC to be bound by the requirements of Ohio Rev. Code § 1751.60, it must be a “provider” or a “health care facility” that “contracts with a health insuring corporation.” CCC is neither. As defined in Ohio Rev. Code § 1751.01(Y) a “provider” is “any natural person or partnership of natural persons who are licensed, certified, accredited, or otherwise authorized in this state to furnish health care services, or any professional association organized under Chapter 1785.” CCC is an Ohio corporation that provides collection services. CCC does not furnish any healthcare services and is not a professional association organized under Chapter 1785.1 Therefore, CCC is not a “provider” subject to Ohio Rev. Code § 1751.60. As defined in Ohio Rev. Code § 1751.01(L) a “health care facility” is “any facility, except a health care practitioner’s office, that provides preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic, acute convalescent, rehabilitation, mental health, intellectual disability, intermediate care, or skilled nursing services.” Again, CCC is a collection agency and does not provide any type of healthcare services. Therefore, CCC is not a “health care facility” subject to Ohio Rev. Code § 1751.60. Because CCC does not meet the Ohio Revised Code’s definition of either a “provider” or “healthcare facility,” CCC is not bound by Ohio Rev. Code § 1751.60. Jackson also contends that CCC sought to collect tort proceeds from an alleged settlement in which she was involved. As a preliminary matter, Jackson never raised these issues in the district court and thus the issues are waived on appeal. United States v. Nagi, 947 F.2d 211, 213 (6th Cir. 1991). Even if these issues were properly pled at the district court level, Jackson does not establish that CCC attempted to collect tort proceeds from Jackson. CCC had an account in Jackson’s name placed with it for collection by PRI. CCC contacted Jackson about the account, and she advised CCC that she was represented by counsel. Thereafter, Jackson’s counsel voluntarily negotiated a settlement of the PRI account for $852.00, less than the balance placed with CCC by PRI. There was no further communication between CCC and Jackson or 1 “Professional association” is defined in Ohio Rev. Code § 1785.01 as “an association organized under this chapter for the sole purpose of rendering one of the professional services,” including associations of accountants, architects, attorneys, dentists, nurses, optometrists, pharmacists, physician assistants, physicians, psychologists, engineers, chiropractors, veterinarians, occupational therapists, and counselors/social workers. See Ohio Rev. Code § 1785.01(B). No. 16-4171 Jackson v. Professional Radiology, et al. Page 5 her counsel after the settlement agreement. None of these actions tie into the “torts proceeds” argument. Nor has Jackson provided any evidence that CCC knew that Jackson had tort proceeds that she could use to pay her medical bills. A motion for judgment on the pleadings will be granted only if the moving party is clearly entitled to judgment. CCC is clearly entitled to judgment. CCC is a collection agency and does not provide any type of healthcare services and is accordingly not a “health care facility” subject to Ohio Rev. Code § 1751.60. Therefore, the district court did not err when it granted CCC’s motion for judgment on the pleadings.