I'm being sued by an orthopedic company, now what?

Did you receive the court summon?
If you have received it, you should file a response to the summon within the date as mentioned on the summon, in order to avoid the default judgment that the creditor may bring against you. On the court date if you can produce the insurance papers, I think that the judgment will be in your favor.

The medical industry - and I am including the health insurance industry, etc. - very carefully craft their regulations and contracts in such a way that they would be very tough to fight (if not near impossible), unless it is an obvious error that you disputed immediately and you have documentation of gross error in billing.

I would have to strongly disagree with SCs assessment, but then again I have worked in the industry (both hospitals and HMOs). The medical industry is so very powerful that they even managed to get the Bankruptcy laws changed to make it more difficult for people to escape unfairly crushing and bloated medical debt.

But yes, you can represent yourself. You can also ask the court about a referral to Legal Aid, so you can get an attorney at little to no cost. Or check the website of your local county court, who *may* have a section on appearing pro se (if not your county, your state should).

But you at least will get the opportunity to work out an equitable payment arrangement and not get a judgement (you do NOT want one if you can help it). Get as much documentation together as you can - all the way down to the listing of the doctor on your insurance company Provider list.

Did the HMO approve the referral consultation *before* you went?