WellStar threatens to cut ties with Aetna — Letters to patients could be negotiating tactic, health consultant says
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: WellStar Health System has sent 14,000 letters to patients saying it may terminate its relationship with Aetna insurance company.
While the letters have alarmed patients who worry they’ll have to switch hospitals or insurance companies, an Atlanta health consultant said the letters could simply be a negotiating tactic and that people probably have little to worry about.
Michael Rovinsky of Integrity Consulting Group said such letters have become a commonplace tactic during hardball negotiations between insurers and hospitals, used by both sides. One side, for instance, might use the letter to alarm patients, who then could call and apply pressure to the other side to settle the negotiations, he said.
“It’s using patients as a pawn for negotiations,” said Rovinsky, a healthcare consultant for some 25 years.