New Jersey Doctor Wins Battle against Health Insurer

By Jordan Quinley

Published on October 30, 2007

Dr. Suketu Nanavati, owner of Cape Heart Clinic in Cape May Court House, has battled on and off to remain a physician with Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield ever since a 1992 incident in which he was sued for not treating a suicide victim for depression. Nanavati says that although the patient was in a lot of pain after a car crash, he did not show any symptoms of depression.

Following an investigation by the state Medical Examiners Board into the incident, Horizon dismissed Nanavati as a participating physician. Nanavati says Horizon used the state board as a quality assurance program and, as a result, dropped him without actually knowing the quality of his care.

Nanavati was reinstated in 1997 after his attorneys fought on his behalf, but was dropped again in 2000. According to one of Nanavati’s attorneys, Horizon agreed in 1997 not to discipline Nanavati further if the state allowed him to keep his license. As a result, Nanavati sued Horizon, saying that the company violated his contract by dismissing him in 2000. On Sept. 14, Superior Court Judge Joseph Visalli agreed, ordering Horizon to reinstate Nanavati right away.

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