Whistleblower Exposes Alleged Denial of Life-Saving Care at Cigna
In a shocking revelation, former medical director at Cigna, Debby Day, has blown the whistle on what she describes as a systematic policy of “deny, deny, deny” when it comes to claims for life-saving treatments. Day, who worked at the insurer for over 15 years, claims she was tasked with wielding considerable power to approve or reject requests for critical care, including vital drugs and surgeries.
Questionable Practices
According to Day, the process of reviewing cases flagged for denial was not taken lightly. It involved extensive time and scrutiny, with a thorough examination of medical literature to ensure that denying treatment was justified. However, Day alleges that more often than not, denying care was not in the best interest of patients.
Pressure to Deny
Day further asserts that she faced increasing pressure from Cigna to work faster and deny more claims, under the threat of termination. Colleagues in similar roles were reportedly under the same directive, with a dashboard dictating the time allowed to review each claim.
Collateral Damage
Adding to the complexity of the situation was what Day describes as the “increasingly sloppy” work of nurses responsible for the initial review of claims. She claims that nurses were frequently denying coverage to patients who should have been approved, contributing to a culture where the mantra became “click and close.”
Impact on Patients
Ultimately, Day argues that this push for efficiency led to patients being unjustly denied the care they desperately needed. She remained with the company until the spring of 2022.
Cigna’s Response
Cigna has denied many of the accusations leveled by Day, dismissing her as a “disgruntled former employee.”
