A Florida drug treatment center sued Cigna Behavioral Health for allegedly requiring improper audits and other cost-cutting measures to limit medical provider payments, according to a lawsuit filed Jan. 23 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Two Sunrise Detox entities allege the Bloomfield, Conn.-based insurer took part in an improper "cost-savings initiative" that included increased unscheduled inspections, audits and patient interviews. According to Bloomberg BNA, the center alleges Cigna launched the cost-saving tactics against Sunrise to retrieve extra money and curb patients' medical treatment access.
The lawsuit also claims Cigna systematically delayed reimbursements and used out-of-network auditing tactics to audit in-network centers.
The lawsuit claims Cigna was driven to maintain its financial position in a time of increased use of substance abuse services. Sunrise cited the nationwide opioid and heroin epidemic and 2008 federal mental health parity laws as driving factors.
Cigna has declined to comment on the lawsuit, Bloomberg BNA reports.