Private Sector Insurance Advocacy

Cigna

Cigna released its new national medical coverage policy for neuropsychological assessment that banned access to our services for patients with autism, MCI, concussion, and all psychiatric conditions.  In addition to the arbitrary nature of the limits on conditions requiring assessment like MCI, the IOPC, in consultation with APAPO attorneys, believed there was a clear parity violation (allowing medical but not psychiatric patients access to the diagnostic service).  

A 360 Degree Advocacy Team was launched which included national content experts:  Dr. Deborah Fein for autistic spectrum disorders, Dr. Glenn Smith for MCI, and Dr. Mike Kirkwood for concussion. The team also included APAPO attorneys Alan Nessman and Diane Pedullo, advocacy experts familiar with Cigna, and for the first time, a partnership with the Brain Injury Association of America and American Academy of Neurology.  The advocacy effort resulted in a reversal of the policy.