Anthem Prosthetic Device Settlement Wins ‘Conditional’ Approval

A class settlement requiring Anthem Inc. to expand its coverage of computerized knee and foot-ankle prosthetic devices won “conditional” approval from a California federal judge, who cautioned that more information must be filed before the deal can be finalized.

The plaintiffs, about 200 Anthem-covered patients whose claims for prosthetic devices were denied, must file additional evidence explaining why the settlement reflects an appropriate standard for determining when these devices are medically necessary, Judge Otis D. Wright II of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California said. Wright granted preliminary approval to the deal, but he gave the ...