HMO's fined $375,000 for prompt-pay violations

ATLANTA - Six more health insurers were fined a total of $375,000 Wednesday, bringing to nine the number of companies fined for violating Georgia&#39;s prompt pay law. <br> <br> Georgia law requires health insurers to pay doctors and consumers within 15 working days or notify them why the claim can&#39;t be paid. <br> <br> The six plans fined and the amounts were: Prudential Healthcare Plan of Georgia, Incorporated, $100,000; Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia, Incorporated, $91,000; CIGNA Healthcare of Georgia, Incorporated, $80,000; Aetna-U.S. Healthcare of Georgia, Incorporated, $50,000; Blue Cross and Blue Shield Healthcare Plan of Georgia, Incorporated, $44,000; and Coventry Health Care of Georgia, Incorporated, $10,000. <br> <br> United HealthCare of Georgia Incorporated was fined $150,000 on May 8 and two other HMO&#39;s were fined earlier this year. <br> <br> Humana Employers Health Care of Georgia was fined $400,000 in January -- the largest fine ever against an HMO in Georgia -- and One Health Plan was fined $200,000 in March. <br> <br> In 2000 and 2001, a dozen health insurers were fined a total of one million dollars, according to state Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine.