HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The Hawaii Supreme Court has cleared the way for customers of the state’s largest health insurance company to sue over coverage denials that they believe harmed them or their families.

Although Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA) defended its process as fair and efficient, critics say the ruling may push HMSA to work more cooperatively with doctors.

At first the ruling seemed like a win for HMSA, because the court said a Circuit Court judge was wrong when he ruled HMSA’s contracts with doctors were unconscionable and unenforceable.

But the court also said some patients no longer have to go through arbitration when believe they have been harmed by denial of coverage.

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