A prominent television personality's spouse faces serious allegations that could impact his medical practice and professional reputation.
According to Fox News, Dr. Emmanuel "Manny" Hostin, husband of "The View" co-host Sunny Hostin, has been named among more than 180 defendants in a sweeping federal RICO lawsuit filed in New York, alleging insurance fraud schemes involving taxi companies' insurance provider.
The lawsuit, filed by American Transit Insurance Company on December 17, accuses Dr. Hostin and his practice, Hostin Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, of participating in a fraudulent billing scheme. The allegations suggest that the defendants exploited New York's no-fault auto insurance laws, which require insurance companies to reimburse policyholders for necessary medical care costs up to specific amounts.
The case centers around claims that Dr. Hostin received kickbacks for performing surgeries and fraudulently billing the insurance company that provides coverage for Uber, Lyft, and other taxi companies. According to court documents, these alleged kickbacks were disguised as dividends or other cash distributions to avoid detection.
American Transit Insurance Company is seeking $450 million in damages through this lawsuit. The company claims the defendants attempted to take advantage of insurance laws that provide up to $50,000 in reimbursement for personal vehicles and $200,000 for taxis and for-hire vehicles in New York City.
The lawsuit specifically mentions two of Hostin's patients from January 2023 who were allegedly involved in low-impact collisions. Despite supposedly sustaining only minimal damage and soft-tissue injuries, both patients received arthroscopic surgery.
Dr. Hostin's attorney, Daniel Thwaites, has strongly rejected all allegations against his client. His response characterizes the lawsuit as an attempt by the insurance company to avoid paying legitimate claims.
Thwaites provided a statement to The Daily Mail defending his client's position:
It is meant to intimidate and harass doctors from collecting for care given to American Transit insureds and their passengers. The real story here is about an insurance carrier abusing the legal system to limit and restrict health care benefits to its insureds and their passengers, and write off its proper obligations.
The lawsuit also alleges that Dr. Hostin received an "investment" interest in the Empire State Ambulatory Surgery Center while maintaining a steady stream of patient referrals, suggesting a potentially improper financial arrangement.
The case has gained additional attention due to recent comments made by Sunny Hostin on "The View" regarding healthcare industry practices. During a discussion about the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, she defended medical practitioners' challenges with insurance companies:
Doctors suffer because of big corporations as well, doctors that want to do good like my husband. [He] operates on someone even though they don't have insurance and then has to sue health insurance companies to get paid for the work that he's been trained his whole life to do.
The timing of these comments, made just weeks after the lawsuit was filed, adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing legal battle. The case highlights the tensions between medical providers and insurance companies in the American healthcare system.
Dr. Emmanuel Hostin, who has been married to "The View" co-host Sunny Hostin since 1998, finds himself at the center of a massive federal lawsuit involving alleged insurance fraud schemes. The $450 million lawsuit filed by American Transit Insurance Company names him among more than 180 defendants accused of exploiting no-fault auto insurance laws in New York.
As the legal proceedings continue, both sides prepare to present their arguments, with Dr. Hostin's team maintaining his innocence while challenging the insurance company's motives in filing the lawsuit.
