UMR Inc. must face a certified class of health plan participants who say the UnitedHealthcare unit uses overly restrictive coverage guidelines to avoid paying for mental health and substance abuse treatments, according to a Wisconsin federal judge’s ruling.

The plan participants are moving forward with claims for enforcement of plan terms and clarification of rights under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act after Judge William M. Conley of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin partially denied UMR’s motion to dismiss. Conley blocked the participants from advancing a claim for equitable relief under the statute, explaining that …