CIGNA Agrees To Settle With Doctors

Mike Dodge, a Dallas lawyer who has helped lead the legal team representing the doctors, predicts the cash payments to doctors will amount to at least $200 million.

Doctors have complained often over the years that managed care companies take too long to pay claims and give them too little information about how payments are calculated.

CIGNA HealthCare has agreed to respond to those complaints by taking steps such as posting more information about claim coding and payment policies on its Web site; appointing an outside administrator to review some claims that have been denied; establishing a $10 million "prompt payment" fund to compensate doctors who have received payments late; and eliminating requirements that providers submit copies of medical records to obtain payment for office visits occurring on the same day as separately billed surgeries.

"CIGNA continues to believe that its claims processing actions over the years have been appropriate and is not acknowledging any liability or wrongdoing by entering into the agreement," CIGNA says in a statement about the proposed settlement agreement.