PhillyInc

Today's lesson: The squeaky wheel gets the liver transplant.

Cigna Corp. is on the hot-seat in California today where nurses from the California Nurses Association union planned to march on the Philadelphia health insurer's California offices.

They wanted Cigna to rescind its decision denying a liver transplant to Nataline Sarkisyan, a 17-year-old patient at the UCLA Medical Center. The nurses association said Cigna told the family that the treatment was too experimental.

At first, in published reports in the Los Angeles Daily News and Hartford Courant, Cigna would not comment on the case, citing patient privacy, but urged patients in general to make use of Cigna's appeal process when they disagree with a decision.

But, that wasn't the end of the story.

Here's Cigna's latest comment:

"Our hearts go out to Nataline and her family, as they endure this terrible ordeal. Based on the unique circumstances of this situation, and although it is outside the scope of the plan's coverage and despite the lack of medical evidence regarding the effectiveness of such treatment, CIGNA HealthCare has decided to make an exception in this rare and unusual case and we will provide coverage should she proceed with the requested liver transplant.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Nataline and her family at this difficult time."

This isn't Cigna's first brush with the limelight. In Michael Moore's healthcare documentary "Sicko," Cigna gets slammed for denying cochlear implants to a child. In the end, Cigna relents. By the way, the front page of Moore's website asked people to call Cigna. The headline? "Chopped Liver."

- Jane M. Von Bergen