Update on Cigna Policy on Professional Component for Clinical Pathology

Last month we notified FSP members that Cigna had released a reimbursement policy update stating that effective July 2021, Cigna would be denying reimbursement for the professional component on clinical pathology services. The FSP’s Legislative and Governmental Affairs Committee under the leadership of Chair, Brett Cantrell, MD and FSP President, Qihui “Jim” Zhai, MD, immediately leapt into action to respond to the policy update by engaging committee members and working collaboratively with the College of American Pathologists and the Florida Medical Association to evaluate the proposed policy changes. Subsequently, the FSP submitted a formal letter directly to Cigna, urging them to overturn the proposed policy update.

In the last week, the FSP has become aware that in response to the efforts of the CAP, the state pathology societies and the individual pathology practices that sent letters, Cigna intends to reverse the proposed policy update and will continue to make payments for the professional component of clinical pathology. A formal announcement has not been made by Cigna, however, should be forthcoming and will be shared with FSP members as soon as it is available. We thank our FSP members for their continued support and for giving us the opportunity to advocate on their behalf.