An Island doctor yesterday stuck the knife into health insurance giants.

Dr. Ewart Brown -- Bermuda Health Care Services chief and a Progressive Labour Party MP -- hit out yesterday after a long-running dispute with the Health Insurance Association of Bermuda over payments for some medical services.

He claimed at least $20,000 in fees for legitimate testing were being withheld by insurance companies -- which was damaging his practice's viability.

Dr. Brown said: "I believe this is a form of economic assassination -- frequently seen in Bermuda.'' But last night HIAB president Nicholas Warren poured cold water on Dr. Brown's claims and said he was treated no differently from any other medical practitioner.

Dr. Brown said he had met with the HIAB in February -- and, despite several assurances that the problem would be resolved soon, he was still waiting.

The PLP Human Affairs Shadow Minister earlier this year clashed with the BHIA over fees for breast cancer screening -- called mammograms.

He spoke out after the Health Insurance Association of Bermuda cut insurance payouts for mammograms from around $113 to $75 -- a 33 percent reduction.

HIAB president Nick Warren later said that the $113 fee was to cover initial mammograms, including administration costs, and said payments for subsequent ones were pegged at $65.20.

He added a review of claims made to HIAB members showed that claims submitted as initial mammograms were follow-ups or annual checks.

And he said it had been decided a "composite'' rate of $75 a test was fair.

At the time, Dr. Brown said that there was less administration on the first test than on subsequent ones and branded the reasoning as "illogical''.

He added yesterday: "I know that the net result of their actions is to cause grave economic harm to my business.'' And he claimed that he was being victimised by insurance chiefs for his outspoken stance.

Dr. Brown said his practice provided a wider range of services than normal, mammograms, X-rays and ultrasound tests, for example.

He said he had also been told last December that fees for some ultrasound tests would be cut by $40.

But he added Dr. David Dyer -- a Government Minister -- who also provided ultrasound testing, had not been told his fees were getting cut.

Dr. Brown said: "I predicted the insurance cartel would make me pay for making statements which were unkind to them.

"They are holding claims money which should have been paid to Bermuda Health Care Services.'' Dr. Brown said he had suffered most problems with Somers Isles Insurance and BF&M.

He added: "When you consider that these two companies control more than 40 per cent of the market, close to 50 percent, you can figure it out yourself -- that's a big impact on cash flow.'' And he said he feared his political involvement did not help him when dealing with the business establishment.

Dr. Brown added: "I have experienced more grief than any other medical professional that I know of -- beginning in 1973 when I was the first Bermudian to fail the medical examination in 50 years.

"And I believe a lot of it can be traced to your politics -- if your politics are not appealing to certain people, economic assassination is one of the tools they use.'' But Mr. Warren said: "I don't think it's entirely appropriate I respond to all these issues. It's sufficient to say I categorically deny almost all of them.'' He added: "There are some issues still outstanding with regard to fees for services provided by Dr. Brown -- and other offices.'' Mr. Warren said the industry was obliged to "due diligence'' with regard to claims -- no matter who made them.

He added: "Dr. Brown can interpret it any way he wants, but we are acting in the best interests of our insured and our policy holders.''