SPINE CARE OF v. MVAIC (2021)

ORDERED that the order is affirmed, without costs.

In this action by a provider to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits, defendant Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation (sued herein as MVAIC) appeals from an order of the Civil Court which denied MVAIC's motion which had sought summary judgment dismissing the complaint on the ground that the limits of any available coverage had already been exhausted, and granted plaintiff's cross motion for summary judgment.

Contrary to MVAIC's contention, the 30-day period within which MVAIC may timely deny a claim or request verification begins to run upon receipt of the claim without regard to whether MVAIC has determined that plaintiff's assignor is a covered person within the meaning of Insurance Law § 5221 (b) (2) (see New York Hosp. Med. Ctr. of Queens v Motor Veh. Acc. Indem. Corp., 12 AD3d 429 [2004]; see T & S Med. Supply Corp. v MVAIC, 63 Misc 3d 150[A], 2019 NY Slip Op 50737[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2019]; Complete Med. Servs., P.C. v MVAIC, 20 Misc 3d 85 [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2008]). Upon a review of the record, MVAIC did not demonstrate that its verification requests were timely or that the limits of the available coverage had been exhausted in accordance with 11 NYCRR 65-3.15 at that point. Furthermore, as defendant raises no issue with respect to plaintiff's establishment of its prima facie entitlement to summary judgment, we do not pass upon the propriety of the Civil Court's determination with respect thereto.

Accordingly, the order is affirmed.

ALIOTTA, P.J., ELLIOT and GOLIA, JJ., concur.