"No Pay" Policies Now Mainstream

Along with Aetna and Wellpoint, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Medicare and Medicaid, now CIGNA insurance will no longer reimburse hospitals for preventable medical errors (PMEs). These reimbursements currently pertain to "never events"--which are errors in patient care that can and should be prevented, like operating on the wrong area and administering the wrong blood type (learn more about "never events" here).

The policy will become effective as of October 1, 2008 and, according to CIGNA, “CIGNA is committed to improving quality for our members throughout the health care system,”  said Jeff Kang, MD, chief medical officer for CIGNA HealthCare. “Our policy on never events and avoidable hospital conditions is designed to put patient safety first and to encourage hospitals to improve quality  every day, one patient at a time.”    

Helen Darling, president of the National Business Group on Health, remarked “Hospitals, health care professionals and health plans must all work together to ensure that ‘never events’ never happen, avoidable conditions are always avoided, and every patient receives quality treatment in a safe and caring environment.”    

There's now little doubt that "No Pay" policies have hit mainstream...the question now is how long it will take to progress from never events to cover more PMEs.

Full news release located here.