Physicians go bust owing millions to insurers and other clients

Physician couple declare personal bankruptcy, saying they may owe money to a number of creditors

Physicians go bust owing millions to insurers and other clients

Insurance News

By Lyle Adriano

A husband and wife physician duo in Spokane have filed a $191 million personal bankruptcy; both have declared that they may owe money to up to 8,000 patients, as well as dozens of insurance companies.

Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center psychiatrist Dr. Sajid Ravasia and gynecologist Dr. Debra Ravasia jointly filed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy in federal court Saturday, The Spokesman-Review reported. The couple has listed between $500,000 and $1m in personal assets to be split among the creditors who might assert a claim of up to $191.2m.

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It is not known how many former patients will claim that Dr. Ravasia owes them money, or why they are owed money, attorney Dan O’Rourke – who represents the couple – told The Spokesman-Review.

O’Rourke declined to disclose the reasons for the Ravasias to file bankruptcy, or what caused the two to claim that they may owe millions.

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“They were involved in a couple of businesses and those business creditors have potential claims against the Ravasias, so we had to list them,” O’Rourke said. “They have over 8,000 creditors.”

Creditors will be given an opportunity tomorrow in a court hearing to discuss why the Ravasias owe them money.

Attorney John Munding, who has been named trustee for the creditors, said that he has already started receiving calls from potential creditors.

Dr. Debra Ravasia owned both Northwest Health Summit and Ajuva Spa, court records show. She was also the medical director and owner of Ajuva Medical Weight Loss, as well as for Ajuva Medical and Day Spa.

O’Rourke added that most of the case involves clients or patients who had business dealing with either company.


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