Cigna Corp. has put out a statement regarding Nataline Sarkisyan, who died Thursday evening just a few hours after the insurer relented and agreed to cover her liver transplant. Cigna now faces a threat of lawsuits by the family, and we can only imagine the lawyering that went on Friday over at 16th and Chestnut before this statement emerged, signed by Wendell Potter, one of their spokesmen.
"Our deepest sympathies are with Nataline's family. Their loss is immeasurable, and our thoughts and prayers are with them. We deeply hope that the outpouring of concern, care and love that are being expressed for Nataline's family help them at this time."
One though as Cigna moves into crisis-communications mode: Perhaps it needs to get out in front of this story, instead of being on the defensive. This innocuous but kind-enough statement, for example, might have been signed by the CEO, Ed Hanway. Sometimes little things matter.
News of Nataline's death is getting picked up worldwide (see the Daily Telegraph and California local TV). The blogosphere is also lighting up. Allspinzone says Cigna's accountant has not now put a dollar value on a girl's life. Presidential candidate John Edwards' blog is making hay for his campaign.
Stay tuned.
Comments (1)
There is no way to fix this or any other healthcare system. There are a finite number of transplants, a shrinking number of doctors, more patients, and growing demands for new resource intensive medical procedures. The supply of medical care is limited and whether the government or private insurers manage the system there will always be losers and winners.
The gov't managed system in Germany (where I lived) was great for simple procedures and general care, but when it came to a life saving cancer surgery or an organ transplant the system left lots to be desired. Sure the German gov't would have OKed the procedure, but the wait time for the bone marrow transplant in the first place could have been 5-10x longer. Would you want to wait for that?
On the topic of Cigna, the gov't needs to encourage more competition in managed care. The big insurers profits tell me the industry is not competitive and needs entrepreneurship to undercut the big guys and bring their profits back down to Earth (while cutting our expenses and/or improving our care). While financial stability of health insurers is important (not nearly as important as Life or Property though) there is still too much red tape.
Posted by John | December 23, 2007 5:55 PM
Posted on December 23, 2007 17:55