Aetna Claims Air Ambulances Abuse Surprise Bill Arbitration (1)

Air ambulance companies are intentionally inflating arbitration claims for surprise medical bills by splitting bundled services into multiple disputes, Aetna Life Insurance Co. told a Connecticut federal court.

The insurer accused Guardian Flight LLC and five other air ambulance providers of filing multiple claims for a single medical trip, splitting its base rate and its additional mileage charges into separate arbitration filings. Aetna is seeking damages for “unfair and deceptive acts” under Connecticut state law.

Aetna’s couterclaim comes as the insurer seeks to overturn Judge Michael P. Shea’s decision in the US District Court for the District of Connecticut that ...