Committee hears update after erroneous Cigna letter about Ascension; carrier says agreement reached and continuity-of-care is available

During ‘other business’ on May 29, Rutherford County staff told the Benefits and Insurance Committee that Cigna had sent an erroneous notice to some plan members indicating Ascension providers would be out of network. Ed Elam said the letter was sent in error and that Cigna would issue a retraction; Elam told the committee that Cigna and Ascension have since reached terms.

Committee members raised concerns that the original Cigna mailing omitted a local hospital, Stonecrest, from a list of nearby in-network options and asked whether negotiations could leave employees with reduced access to their usual providers. A committee member proposed adding contractual language in future RFPs to protect plan members from coverage changes during carrier negotiations; the committee did not take a formal vote on that proposal during the meeting.

Max Foster, identified as a Cigna representative, addressed the committee and explained the carrier’s continuity-of-care process: if a patient has ongoing treatment with a provider that would be moving out of network, Cigna can submit an individual continuity-of-care form that, if approved, allows the member to continue care with that provider for a limited window (Foster described the window generally as about 30 to 60 days). Foster said the continuity process is intended to give members time to transition care where necessary.

Elam said Cigna and HCA (Hospital Corporation of America) were in negotiations at the time of the meeting and that staff would follow up; he also said a formal retraction letter from Cigna was expected and would be distributed to members who received the erroneous notice. No formal policy change or contractual amendment was adopted at the meeting; members requested that staff return with additional information if negotiations affect access to local providers.