"We're glad that CIGNA has been working to correct policies and procedures that affect behavioral health professionals in general and psychologists in particular, who provide services under their managed care system," says Russ Newman, Ph.D., J.D., executive director for professional practice, American Psychological Association Practice Organization (APAPO).
The suit alleges that the defendants violated federal law by conspiring to reduce and delay payments to these health professionals. CIGNA is one of a number of defendants. The APA Practice Organization, although not a party to the lawsuit, became a signatory to the settlement after engaging in the settlement talks to ensure that behavioral health issues were adequately addressed.
Through the settlement, CIGNA is the first of the defendants to agree to resolve a number of psychologists' long standing concerns. The company will use its website to make various transactions with psychologists and other health professionals easier and faster, while also making its operations and procedures more transparent. The agreement also includes updating the listing of psychologists in its network.
Additionally, CIGNA will pay $11.55 million to a settlement fund to be split among the class of non-physician providers, including psychologists, who provided services to subscribers of CIGNA or the other defendants from January 1, 1990 to the present. The settlement awaits court approval from U.S. District Cour
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Contact: Luana Bossolo
lbossolo@apa.org
202-336-5899
American Psychological Association Practice Directorate
14-Dec-2004