The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued a summary order on Feb. 6, 2026, in the case of *Long Island Anesthesiologists PLLC v. UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of New York Inc.*, a dispute between a medical practice and the insurance giant over healthcare reimbursement issues.
The case, designated as 25-1167-cv, was heard by a three-judge panel consisting of Circuit Judges John M. Walker Jr., Barrington D. Parker, and Joseph F. Bianco at the Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse in New York City.
Long Island Anesthesiologists PLLC served as the plaintiff-appellant in the case, challenging UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of New York Inc. in its role as program administrator for the Empire Plan Medical/Surgical Program. MultiPlan Inc. was also named as a defendant-appellee in the litigation.
The court issued its ruling as a summary order, which carries specific limitations under federal appellate procedure. According to the court's notice, rulings by summary order do not have precedential effect, meaning they cannot be cited as binding legal authority in future cases. However, citation to summary orders filed on or after Jan. 1, 2007, is permitted under Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 32.1 and the Second Circuit's Local Rule 32.1.1.
When citing a summary order in documents filed with the Second Circuit, parties must reference either the Federal Appendix or an electronic database and include the notation "SUMMARY ORDER." Additionally, any party citing a summary order must serve a copy on parties not represented by counsel.
The legal representation in the case included Roy W. Breitenbach from Harris Beach Murtha Cullina PLLC in Uniondale, New York, serving as counsel for the plaintiff-appellant Long Island Anesthesiologists. Megan E. Knepka also appeared on the brief for the medical practice.
For the defendants-appellees, Brian D. Boone from Alston & Bird LLP represented UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of New York Inc. The defense team included Kyle R. Hair, S. Blake Davis, D. Andrew Hatchett, and Karla M. Doe, also on the brief. The law firm has offices in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Atlanta, Georgia.
The dispute centers on the Empire Plan Medical/Surgical Program, a healthcare benefits program administered by UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of New York Inc. The Empire Plan is a comprehensive health insurance program that typically serves public employees in New York State, providing medical and surgical coverage to participants and their eligible dependents.
MultiPlan Inc.'s involvement as a defendant suggests the case may involve network management or claims processing issues, as MultiPlan operates as a healthcare cost management company that provides network-based healthcare cost management solutions to healthcare payors.
The case represents another example of ongoing tensions between healthcare providers and insurance companies over reimbursement rates, network participation, and claims processing procedures. Anesthesiologists, in particular, have faced challenges with insurance reimbursements and out-of-network billing practices, leading to various legal disputes across the country.
While the specific details of the dispute and the court's reasoning are not fully available from the summary order header, the case appears to involve disagreements over payment terms, reimbursement rates, or administrative procedures related to the Empire Plan's medical and surgical benefits.
The Second Circuit's decision to issue a summary order rather than a full opinion suggests the court may have viewed the legal issues as settled or straightforward, not requiring extensive written analysis. Summary orders are typically used when the law is clear and the case does not present novel legal questions that would benefit from detailed judicial explanation.
The timing of the decision, coming in early 2026, reflects the ongoing nature of healthcare reimbursement disputes that continue to work their way through the federal court system. Such cases often involve complex contractual relationships between healthcare providers and insurance companies, with disputes arising over payment methodologies, network agreements, and benefit administration.
For Long Island Anesthesiologists PLLC, the appellate court's summary order represents the conclusion of their federal court challenge against UnitedHealthcare and MultiPlan. The medical practice's decision to pursue the case through the appellate level indicates the significance of the underlying dispute to their business operations.
The case adds to the body of healthcare reimbursement litigation involving major insurance companies like UnitedHealthcare, which administers benefits programs for millions of Americans through various subsidiaries and partnerships. While summary orders lack precedential effect, they still provide resolution for the specific parties involved and may influence similar disputes in the healthcare industry.
The involvement of experienced healthcare law firms on both sides underscores the complexity and importance of these reimbursement disputes in the current healthcare landscape, where providers and payors continue to navigate evolving payment models and regulatory requirements.