Anesthesia Coding Alert

Lawyers representing more than 700,000 physicians across the country recently settled a $540 million lawsuit with Cigna.
 
The case alleged that Cigna violated federal statutes against conspiracy and violated various state prompt-pay statutes, among other things. Cigna must change many policies, including paying physicians who administer vaccines and other injectable drugs as well as paying for the drugs themselves; eliminating the requirement that physicians must submit copies of their medical records before being paid for most office visits occurring on the same day as surgeries and other procedures; and developing a Web site with detailed information about Cigna's coding policies and payment guidelines.
 
Physicians can resubmit claims affected by the lawsuit, so check with your state medical society to see whether your practice is entitled to reimbursement through this case.