Fresno Bee- Thumbs Down to CIGNA
May 19, 2007
Thumbs down to CIGNA, one of the nation's biggest health insurers, for short-changing Dr. Linda Halderman of Selma for two minimally invasive biopsies performed in her office last year. Halderman last month won a $800.40 small-claims judgment against the company. Halderman and other physicians say this is a "systemic, unethical business practice" they see often and a failure to adhere to reimbursement agreements. They say that many of the nation's biggest insurers and HMOs have altered medical codes attached to procedures and diagnoses on claims to pay doctors less. The practice is called "down coding." Good for Halderman for calling them on it. It shouldn't surprise us that insurance companies manipulate the system. This is one more reason that we need health care reform.