Guest guest Posted August 5, 2004 Report Share Posted August 5, 2004 I ran across this on a medical acupuncture site... don't know what the time frame is but I imagine its pretty current. doug CIGNA loses class action suit: As many medical acupuncturists may be aware, insurance companies have begun denying claims for acupuncture, even when it is a covered benefit. The logic for the denial is that acupuncture is not medically necessary, or experimental, unless it is performed for the treatment of nausea secondary to chemotherapy, surgical anesthesia, or pregnancy. This narrow focus is taken directly from the NIH 1997 position statement on acupuncture. However, CIGNA, in a recent class action suit brought in the United Stated District Court for the southern District of Florida, Miami Division, will now be forced to pay these claims that were previously denied. Another very important stimulation of this suit is the reversal of " Claim coding and bundling edits " denial of office visits billed in conjunction with medical procedures, ie, acupuncture. Additional information regarding this matter, and instructions for filing a claim, may be found at http://www.cignaphysiciansettlement.com/ or by calling Settlement Administrator at 1-877-683-9363 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 5, 2004 Report Share Posted August 5, 2004 Thanks for this Doug! Recently I have had allot of new patients with insurance. I had one with Blue Cross and when I called for benefits they said Acupuncture would only be paid if done by a Chiropractor or a M.D. *go Figure?!* Teresa Hall, L.Ac, M.S, Q.M.E. 619-517-1188 - " " Wednesday, August 04, 2004 11:57 PM cigna > I ran across this on a medical acupuncture site... don't know what the time frame is but I > imagine its pretty current. > doug > > > > CIGNA loses class action suit: > As many medical acupuncturists may be aware, insurance companies have begun denying > claims for acupuncture, even when it is a covered benefit. The logic for the denial is that > acupuncture is not medically necessary, or experimental, unless it is performed for the > treatment of nausea secondary to chemotherapy, surgical anesthesia, or pregnancy. This > narrow focus is taken directly from the NIH 1997 position statement on acupuncture. > However, CIGNA, in a recent class action suit brought in the United Stated District Court > for the southern District of Florida, Miami Division, will now be forced to pay these claims > that were previously denied. > Another very important stimulation of this suit is the reversal of " Claim coding and > bundling edits " denial of office visits billed in conjunction with medical procedures, ie, > acupuncture. > Additional information regarding this matter, and instructions for filing a claim, may be > found at http://www.cignaphysiciansettlement.com/ or by calling Settlement > Administrator at 1-877-683-9363 > > > > > Chinese Herbal Medicine offers various professional services, including board approved continuing education classes, an annual conference and a free discussion forum in Chinese Herbal Medicine. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 7, 2004 Report Share Posted August 7, 2004 At 8:06 AM -0700 8/5/04, Teresa Hall wrote: >I had one with Blue Cross and when I called for benefits they >said Acupuncture would only be paid if done by a Chiropractor or a M.D. *go >Figure?!* -- Teresa, I believe it is illegal for the insurance company to make such a restriction. You, or your patient, might want to research this further. Rory -- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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