UMass Memorial bone registry to pay more than $800 K in fines
WORCESTER — Attorneys general in two states slapped UMass Memorial Health Care Inc. with more than $800,000 in fines and penalties today for “unfair and deceptive acts” by the hospital’s bone marrow registry, which for years raked in millions of dollars in lab testing fees for the hospital by using high-priced models in lab coats and bright blue wigs to urge people to sign up for the registry.UMass Memorial employees failed to disclose to potential donors that their insurance companies would be charged as much as $4,000 for a simple blood test that typically costs about $100 or less.
In addition to fines, restitution and attorneys fees to be paid to prosecutors in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, UMass Memorial also has struck separate confidential agreements to repay the insurance companies who paid the inflated testing bills submitted by the registry.
New Hampshire Attorney General Michael A. Delaney said UMass Memorial and its Caitlin Raymond International Registry profited by taking advantage of well-intentioned state laws requiring health insurers to pay for bone marrow testing.
“Charging $4,300 for a test that costs $50 is an outrageous exploitation and distortion of that statute,” Mr. Delaney said in a written statement.
The New Hampshire legal action against the hospital, settled out of court yesterday, alleges that in some cases Caitlin Raymond staff discarded potentially life-saving donor samples, rather than test them, when the registry didn’t have enough information to bill the donor’s insurance company.
“It seems the profit goal was the end game here,” Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley said in an interview.
“What’s disturbing is the extent to which we believe this institution targeted people with insurance, seeking reimbursement up to $4,000 for a test that costs $100 on average,” Ms.
Blue Cross Life Health Insurance - News
(T&G Staff File Photo/PAUL KAPTEYN) By Thomas Caywood TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF WORCESTER — Attorneys general in two states slapped UMass Memorial Health Care Inc. with more than $800000 in fines and penalties today for “unfair and deceptive acts” by
NEWARK, NJ, Feb 01, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Horizon Healthcare Innovations, a subsidiary of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, along with Duke University School of Nursing and Rutgers College of Nursing, today announced a collaborative
Before the bill was passed, many insurance companies did not extend coverage to Applied Behavior Analysis therapy, a commonly prescribed therapy to help children with autism. However, insurance companies took issue with HB 2693. Blue Cross/Blue Shield
Blue Shield of California, an independent member of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, is a not-for-profit health plan with 3.3 million members, 4800 employees, and one of the largest provider networks in California.
DayOne Health, Chicago's premier weight loss program has the pleasure of announcing great news for future LAP-BAND® patients with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois health insurance. Starting on February 2012, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois
Insurance News: Sen. - Kaiser Health News
Sen. Dianne Feinstein announced she is supporting a ballot measure to give California regulators the power to approve health insurance rates. In other news, Blue Shield in California says it will cover an autism behavioral therapy and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Colorado and Connecticut announce plans to pay doctors for coordinating care.
Los Angeles Times : Sen. Feinstein Backs Health Insurance Rate Controls A high-stakes ballot measure to give state regulators the power to approve health insurance rates in California has landed a heavyweight supporter: U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein. One of California's most respected politicians, Feinstein has come forward as the chief spokeswoman and No. 1 booster of a proposed initiative to regulate hikes in health premiums (Lifsher, 2/1).
The Sacramento Bee : Blue Shield Settles Autism Therapy Dispute Blue Shield will cover behavioral therapy for autism in accordance with the state's mental health parity law in a settlement with the California Department of Insurance. The settlement, announced Tuesday, resolves a Department of Insurance enforcement action filed in July and confirms terms that Blue Shield agreed to at that time (Smith, 2/2).
Los Angeles Times : Blue Shield Agrees To Cover Autism Therapy A major health insurance company has settled an enforcement action with state regulators over providing special therapy for autism patients. California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones on Tuesday said that Blue Shield of California Life & Health Insurance Co. agreed to immediately cover the cost of applied behavior analysis therapy, which Jones described as a well-recognized and effective treatment (Lifsher, 2/1).
Kansas City Star : Insurance Companies Cover Missouri Autism Treatments Missouri's insurance department says nearly 4,000 residents received autism treatments that were covered by their health insurance plans last year. The department said Wednesday that insurance companies covered about $4.3 million in autism-related treatments in 2011. A state law that took effect in January 2011 requires health insurance companies to cover certain autism treatments, such as behavioral analyses (2/2).