WASHINGTON, April 16 (Reuters) - A top Senate Democrat, John Rockefeller, said on Friday he was expanding his ongoing investigation into health insurers to look at claims that Coventry Health Care and Aetna denied necessary heart tests.
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation chairman said the move follows media reports that the companies refused to pay for 'stress tests' used to help diagnose potential heart problems for some patients in Delaware.
In letters to the two insurers, the Democrat asked for information about their policies toward covering medically necessary care.
Representatives for Coventry could not be immediately reached for comment. An Aetna spokesman declined to provide immediate comment.
Shares of the two insurers lagged the health insurance sector in a weak market on Friday.
Coventry's stock fell nearly 3 percent, while Aetna was down 1.7 percent both on the New York Stock Exchange in early afternoon trading.
Both the Morgan Stanley Healthcare Payor Index and the Standard & Poor's Managed Care Index were off about 1 percent.
(Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Richard Chang)
((Company news desk in Washington; +1 202 898 8400, washington.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com)) Keywords: USA HEALTHCARE/INSURERS
* Commerce chairman sends letters over denied heart tests
* Coventry, Aetna shares close lower
(Adds Aetna comment, background, closing share prices)
WASHINGTON, April 16 (Reuters) - A top Senate Democrat, John Rockefeller, said on Friday he was expanding his investigation into health insurers to look at claims that Coventry Health Care and Aetna denied necessary heart tests.
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation chairman said the action follows media reports that the companies refused to pay for 'stress tests' used to help diagnose potential heart problems for some patients in Delaware.
In letters to the two insurers, Rockefeller asked for information about their policies toward covering medically necessary care.
Aetna spokesman Walt Cherniak said the company had 'for the time being' suspended denials of the tests as authorities investigate. Delaware's insurance commissioner is also investigating the matter, according to Rockefeller.
'We're going to cooperate with all regulatory agencies and committees as we move forward,' Cherniak said.
Rockefeller said the insurers had hired a third-party claims administration company called MedSolutions to screen approvals.
Cherniak said such claim management was intended to make sure only patients who really need such heart tests get them to avoid unnecessary radiation and costs.
Representatives for Coventry did not return a call seeking comment.
Coventry's stock closed down 1.45 percent at $23.71. Aetna's shares closed down 0.06 percent at $31.40.
(Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Richard Chang)
((Company news desk in Washington; +1 202 898 8400, washington.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com)) Keywords: USA HEALTHCARE/INSURERS
* Commerce chairman sends letters over heart tests
* Senator cites reports that insurers denied claims
* Coventry, Aetna shares down more than 2 percent
WASHINGTON, April 16 (Reuters) - A top Senate Democrat, John Rockefeller, said on Friday he was expanding his ongoing investigation into health insurers to look at claims that Coventry Health Care and Aetna denied necessary heart tests.
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation chairman said the move follows media reports that the companies refused to pay for 'stress tests' used to help diagnose potential heart problems for some patients in Delaware.
In letters to the two insurers, the Democrat asked for information about their policies toward covering medically necessary care.
Representatives for Coventry could not be immediately reached for comment. An Aetna spokesman declined to provide immediate comment.
Shares of the two insurers lagged the health insurance sector in a weak market on Friday.
Coventry's stock fell nearly 3 percent, while Aetna was down 1.7 percent both on the New York Stock Exchange in early afternoon trading.
Both the Morgan Stanley Healthcare Payor Index and the Standard & Poor's Managed Care Index were off about 1 percent.
(Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Richard Chang) Keywords: USA HEALTHCARE/INSURERS (Company news desk in Washington; +1 202 898 8400, washington.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation chairman said the move follows media reports that the companies refused to pay for 'stress tests' used to help diagnose potential heart problems for some patients in Delaware.
In letters to the two insurers, the Democrat asked for information about their policies toward covering medically necessary care.
Representatives for Coventry could not be immediately reached for comment. An Aetna spokesman declined to provide immediate comment.
Shares of the two insurers lagged the health insurance sector in a weak market on Friday.
Coventry's stock fell nearly 3 percent, while Aetna was down 1.7 percent both on the New York Stock Exchange in early afternoon trading.
Both the Morgan Stanley Healthcare Payor Index and the Standard & Poor's Managed Care Index were off about 1 percent.
(Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Richard Chang)
((Company news desk in Washington; +1 202 898 8400, washington.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com)) Keywords: USA HEALTHCARE/INSURERS
* Commerce chairman sends letters over denied heart tests
* Coventry, Aetna shares close lower
(Adds Aetna comment, background, closing share prices)
WASHINGTON, April 16 (Reuters) - A top Senate Democrat, John Rockefeller, said on Friday he was expanding his investigation into health insurers to look at claims that Coventry Health Care and Aetna denied necessary heart tests.
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation chairman said the action follows media reports that the companies refused to pay for 'stress tests' used to help diagnose potential heart problems for some patients in Delaware.
In letters to the two insurers, Rockefeller asked for information about their policies toward covering medically necessary care.
Aetna spokesman Walt Cherniak said the company had 'for the time being' suspended denials of the tests as authorities investigate. Delaware's insurance commissioner is also investigating the matter, according to Rockefeller.
'We're going to cooperate with all regulatory agencies and committees as we move forward,' Cherniak said.
Rockefeller said the insurers had hired a third-party claims administration company called MedSolutions to screen approvals.
Cherniak said such claim management was intended to make sure only patients who really need such heart tests get them to avoid unnecessary radiation and costs.
Representatives for Coventry did not return a call seeking comment.
Coventry's stock closed down 1.45 percent at $23.71. Aetna's shares closed down 0.06 percent at $31.40.
(Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Richard Chang)
((Company news desk in Washington; +1 202 898 8400, washington.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com)) Keywords: USA HEALTHCARE/INSURERS
* Commerce chairman sends letters over heart tests
* Senator cites reports that insurers denied claims
* Coventry, Aetna shares down more than 2 percent
WASHINGTON, April 16 (Reuters) - A top Senate Democrat, John Rockefeller, said on Friday he was expanding his ongoing investigation into health insurers to look at claims that Coventry Health Care and Aetna denied necessary heart tests.
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation chairman said the move follows media reports that the companies refused to pay for 'stress tests' used to help diagnose potential heart problems for some patients in Delaware.
In letters to the two insurers, the Democrat asked for information about their policies toward covering medically necessary care.
Representatives for Coventry could not be immediately reached for comment. An Aetna spokesman declined to provide immediate comment.
Shares of the two insurers lagged the health insurance sector in a weak market on Friday.
Coventry's stock fell nearly 3 percent, while Aetna was down 1.7 percent both on the New York Stock Exchange in early afternoon trading.
Both the Morgan Stanley Healthcare Payor Index and the Standard & Poor's Managed Care Index were off about 1 percent.
(Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Richard Chang) Keywords: USA HEALTHCARE/INSURERS (Company news desk in Washington; +1 202 898 8400, washington.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.