CIGNA eliminates referral requirement
Hartford-based CIGNA HealthCare, which provides health benefit coverage to more than 5.5 million people, is now the latest managed care organization to cover obstetrical and gynecological services without requiring a referral from a primary care physician. Women may now go directly to their OB/GYN, and the OB/GYN may refer them for medically necessary lab work and X-rays without having to involve the primary care physician.
Many managed care organizations are allowing direct access to OB/GYNs because of consumer and provider lobbying on this issue.
"Women have special health care needs throughout their lives," says William Popik, MD, CIGNA's national medical director and senior vice president of managed care operations. "Our new policy will make it much easier for women to access those services, including preventive and prenatal care."
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