Novant Files Lawsuit Against Aetna

One of Charlotte's largest health care providers has filed a lawsuit against a major insurance carrier.

Novant, which is the parent company of Presbyterian Hospitals, filed a 43-page lawsuit against Aetna, saying it gave away trade secrets.

PDF: Novant Complaint

Customers are now getting notification letters that Aetna could drop coverage with Novant.

Aetna customer Larry Ramsey said he received the letter Tuesday morning.

“Yeah, it got my attention, absolutely,” he said.

He’s one of 40,000 Aetna members learning that Presbyterian Hospitals could lose their “in-network status,” leaving patients to either pay higher fees or find new doctors in 30 days.

“It was very disturbing that it was, sort of, out of the blue,” Ramsey said.

The possible changes come from a dispute between Novant Health and Aetna over how much Aetna will pay the hospitals on insurance claims.

The lawsuit filed by Novant says Aetna divulged confidential information about the specifics of how much Novant hospitals charge, including a claim that Novant is “the most expensive healthcare system in the Carolinas.”

In a written statement, Novant said that's false and called it “damaging to our reputation.”

In its own statement, Aetna said “Novant is putting its patients ... in a difficult position.”

If the Novant and Aetna can’t reach an agreement, coverage will end effective July 1.

“I'm very afraid it won't be settled,” Ramsey said. “I'm hopeful it will. And if it doesn't get settled, then I'm going to have to make a decision about my future health care.”

Previous Stories: May 12, 2010: Aetna Could Cut Novant, Putting Thousands Out Of Network