Cigna & Memorial Sloan Kettering in dispute over coverage for patients in cancer treatment
Cancer patients received letters from the prestigious Manhattan hospital in December claiming the insurer would soon drop their coverage, but there is now a tentative agreement in place to provide coverage through April 14.
Cigna Healthcare and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City are in the midst of a contract dispute – and many cancer patients are getting caught in the crossfire. The cancer center sent letters to patients in December to inform them that Cigna soon would drop network coverage.
“We are writing to let you know that Cigna Healthcare does not plan to renew their contract with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) as an in-network insurance provider in 2024,” the letter said. “This will impact your ability to receive care at MSK in the future. We have been doing everything we can to reach a fair agreement with Cigna. MSK has faced major cost increases in recent years, and Cigna is not willing to help cover these costs. As a result, we have not been able to reach an agreement that allows us to provide the very best cancer care at low cost to our patients.”
However, a tentative agreement will extend the termination date and allow the cancer center to remain in-network. “We have mutually agreed to extend our current contract until February 15 as we work together to finalize a new agreement,” Cigna spokesperson Madeline Ziomek said
In a letter to patients, MSK CEO Lisa De Angelis said patients receiving active treatment still would qualify for in-network coverage at least through April 14 and that bone marrow transplants would be covered for a year from treatment.
New York state politicians also are weighing in on the dispute.
“These types of letters are unfortunately all too common,” said Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, who chairs the Assembly Health Committee. “The patients are caught in the middle. Both parties have to admit it’s horrible for the patients. They have an obligation to work it out so patients aren’t used as pawns, If Cigna does pull out of providing coverage at Sloan Kettering, it’s a problem for patients. At what point is it fair to tell patients/?”
Related: Michigan health insurers cannot deny new cancer treatments: Will other states step up?
Coverage for cancer treatment continues to be a contentious topic across the nation. Michigan’s top insurance regulator on Monday told health plans that they can’t deny coverage for clinically proven cancer treatments, including cutting-edge genetic and biologic therapies. The move followed media coverage and pressure from state lawmakers after an insurer refused to pay for the only treatment that could have saved the life of a 50-year-old man, even though a state law requires insurers to pay for proven cancer drugs.