September 12th, 2003--- PHYSICIANS
CASE AGAINST MANAGED CARE CHALLENGED BY MAJOR HMO'S
Physicians Confident in Lower Court Rulings
Aetna and Cigna Have Already Settled with Physicians
A three-judge panel heard arguments today in a massive national class
action brought by physicians against the nation's largest health
insurance companies. The hearing was prompted by the insurance
companies appeal of a district court judge's ruling certifying a
national class action on behalf of over 700,000 medical doctors. The
appeal challenges the ruling of Judge Federico Moreno that was
sufficient to allow the "tentative" approval of the class action based
on an industry wide scheme to defraud doctors through the fraudulent
computer processing of claims.
Archie Lamb, co-lead counsel for the physicians noted, "Judge Moreno has
given careful consideration to all of the evidence and case law in
making his ruling. We are confident that the appellant court will
reinforce the underlying ruling and return the case to judge Moreno for
final disposition."
The lower court has successfully disposed of 2 of these cases involving
Aetna and Cigna. These two industry giants have already settled their
cases before judge Moreno. Eight additional health insurance companies
are next in line to go to trial in mid 2004 if the cases are not
settled.
Co-lead counsel for the physicians Harley Tropin indicated, "we have a
massive discovery team preparing the case and the evidence against the
insurance companies is mounting daily." A ruling from the three-judge,
11th circuit panel is anticipated within the next several weeks.
View the CIGNA Settlement
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this article, please visit the HMO Crisis Newsroom
or contact Anne Duke at
(703) 518-2383 or anned@natmedia.com.