The Hospital Authority of Houston County, d/b/a Houston Medical Center “the hospital”, appeals from the grant of summary judgment to Pyrotechnic Specialties, Inc. “PSI”, in this suit for unpaid medical expenses. The hospital contends the trial court erred in finding that no jury issue existed regarding whether there had been an accord and satisfaction for certain patient accounts. Because we find that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment, we reverse. On review of the grant or denial of a motion for summary judgment, this Court must determine whether the trial court erred in concluding that no genuine issue of material fact remains and that the party was entitled to judgment as a matter of law. This requires a de novo review of the evidence. Summary judgment is appropriate when the court, viewing all the facts and evidence and reasonable inferences from those facts in a light most favorable to the nonmovant, concludes that the evidence does not create a triable issue as to each essential element of the case. Citations and punctuation omitted. Rubin v. Cello Corp. , 235 Ga. App. 250-251 510 SE2d 541 1998.
Viewed in the light most favorable to the hospital, the record shows that PSI provided medical insurance benefits for its employees between 1997 and 1999. The hospital, located near the PSI plant, provided medical care for some of the employees, and employees assigned their insurance benefits to the hospital. In May 1997, PSI filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Six months later, PSI notified the hospital that outstanding medical claims would be paid as follows: claims from February 1, 1997, through May 23, 1997, were included in PSI’s bankruptcy petition and would be paid according to the reorganization plan; claims from May 24, 1997, through June 14, 1997, would be paid by PSI pursuant to a payment plan; and claims arising on or after June 15, 1997, were to be filed with PSI’s insurance company, TPA of Georgia. The hospital followed these instructions for approximately a year and a half while it continued to provide medical care for PSI employees and their dependents.
