UPDATE- August 12, 2024
In a major win for emergency physicians, Aetna has announced it will not continue its dangerous and misguided downcoding policies in California. This is a direct result of the ACEP effort to alert legislators about the insurer's bad behavior.
However, past is prologue and we know the work is far from finished. Aetna has not committed to dropping these policies in any other states. While the specific tactics mentioned in the letter are no longer a threat to practices or patients in California, ACEP will continue to expose insurers acting in bad faith and we will never stop fighting for you!
July 16, 2024
ACEP is leading efforts to expose Aetna’s bad behavior to the full California Congressional delegation.
In a joint letter with CalACEP and the California Medical Association, we outline the insurer strategy to “downcode,” or lower the severity of physician and facility claims for emergency services, for commercial, Medicare Advantage, and student health policies.
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Your experience fuels state and federal efforts to push insurers toward transparency and better business practices. With ACEP, your voice makes an impact.
ACEP and CalACEP sent a similar letter to California legislators in 2022 about Anthem's nonpayment policy. Once policymakers, media and influencers joined the chorus of concern, the pressure became impossible to ignore and the insurer dialed back its policy.
ACEP has your back. We will seize every opportunity to call out bad actors and will not stop working to strengthen efforts to hold insurers accountable.
Related:
ACEP Calls Out Insurer Abuses During Surprise Billing Hearing
