California Medical Association Accuses Aetna of Retaliation Against Physicians

SACRAMENTO, Calif.—The California Medical Association (CMA) Aug. 30 issued a public statement calling for Aetna Health of California Inc. to cease engaging in “retaliatory actions” against CMA physician members—actions that CMA claims are a “direct result” of a lawsuit filed in July by the group and other local medical associations against Aetna.

CMA claims in its public statement that since the lawsuit was filed, “Aetna is categorically refusing to negotiate or contract with any physician to join Aetna’s provider network if the physician is a member of CMA, citing the fact that CMA has sued Aetna.”

“Regardless of Aetna’s position ...