RP and MBB expose Aetna’s tactics: how the Insurer manufactured the lawsuit, exploits the system and harms providers and patients in unscrupulous pursuit of profits
(EL SEGUNDO, Calif. and JACKSONVILLE, Fla.) Feb. 26, 2025— Radiology Partners (RP) and its affiliated practice, Mori, Bean, and Brooks, Inc. (MBB), filed two motions today in federal court in Florida. The first seeks to dismiss Aetna’s manufactured No Surprises Act (NSA) claims, and the second requests arbitration for any alleged contract disputes. The filings respond to Aetna’s Dec. 23, 2024, complaint and expose Aetna’s tactics to undermine patients’ access to care, pressure physicians with false and defamatory claims, use litigation to attempt to avoid its existing payment obligations and attempt to influence public perception. The motions underscore RP’s and MBB’s commitment to protect patients, hospitals and doctors from corporate overreach by one of the world’s largest commercial health insurance companies.
“RP is steadfast in our mission to transform radiology by supporting our locally led practices like MBB,” said Rich Whitney, RP CEO and Board Chair. “Our court filings make it clear that Aetna is using litigation to try to shape public perception while shamelessly prioritizing profits over patient care. Aetna’s strategy includes terminating physician contracts, exploiting the system and avoiding payments—even when those payments are binding and ordered by a neutral, federally approved arbiter. These tactics harm patients, contribute to the national physician shortage and waste healthcare resources, including driving up costs for Aetna’s own self-funded employer plans. We vehemently refute all their manufactured allegations, and we will vigorously defend our position.”
Radiology is a cornerstone of modern healthcare, and MBB is a leading radiology practice serving communities throughout Florida. Aetna unilaterally terminated MBB’s multi-decades long in-network agreement in 2022, forcing the practice into the federal NSA dispute resolution process. That process is administered by the CENTERS for MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES (CMS), and disputes are decided by government-approved, neutral arbitrators. NSA arbitrators have ruled in MBB’s favor in 98% of disputes with Aetna. Aetna controls how many NSA disputes arise by underpaying thousands of claims—now it seeks litigation as another tactic to avoid payments ordered by the arbitrators—a move RP and MBB believe is an embarrassing attempt to exert undue pressure on MBB rather than complete its existing payment obligations and engage in fair and equitable negotiations to restore in-network status.
“As a practicing radiologist in Florida, I believe Aetna’s approach undermines doctors, making it increasingly difficult to provide essential imaging and diagnostic services,” said Dr. Krishna Nallamshetty, RP Chief Medical Officer. “Physicians strive to remain in-network to ensure continuity of care for patients and reduce the burden on hospitals. In my opinion, Aetna’s unilateral decisions are disappointing and significantly disrupt our ability to serve healthcare facilities and patients. By leveraging its enormous size and outsized market power, Aetna can and does pressure physicians and hospitals, threatening access to physician-led care. RP and MBB remain committed to ensuring high-quality services despite these challenges.”
About Radiology Partners
Radiology Partners, through its owned and affiliated practices, is a leading radiology practice in the U.S., serving more than 3,400 hospitals and other healthcare facilities with high quality radiology, technology and artificial intelligence solutions. As a physician-led and physician-owned practice, our mission is to transform radiology by innovating across clinical value, technology, service and economics, while elevating the role of radiology and radiologists in healthcare. Using a proven healthcare services model, Radiology Partners provides consistent, high-quality care to patients, while delivering enhanced value to the hospitals, clinics, imaging centers and referring physicians we serve. Learn more at radpartners.com and connect with us at @Rad_Partners.
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Sheila Biggs
sbiggs@jarrardinc.com
