Aetna suit by doctors escalates out-of-network dispute

A group of California doctors and medical groups accused Aetna Inc. (AET) (AET) of reneging on medical benefits, escalating a dispute over payments for care in facilities that don't have discounted contracts with the insurance provider. More than six-dozen physicians, medical associations and surgery centers sued Aetna in state court July 3. They alleged that the Hartford, Connecticut-based company retaliated against doctors and patients for using outpatient units that aren't in the company's network of preferred providers. The plaintiffs asked a court in Los Angeles to stop Aetna from terminating doctors for referring patients to out-of-network facilities.