Select Medical Sues Aetna Over LTCH Preauthorization Denials

Select Medical, a Pennsylvania-based operator of long-term acute care hospitals, filed suit in October against Aetna alleging systematic denial of preauthorization requests for Medicare Advantage members. The complaint says Aetna denied 200 of 207 admission requests in 2025 and 108 of 114 in early 2026 at Select's Pennsylvania facilities, the lowest admission rate among payers evaluated in that market. The case moved to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania on Nov. 6. Select alleges breach of contract, arguing Medicare Advantage rules bar plans from applying stricter criteria than traditional Medicare, and seeks an order requiring Aetna to rescind the alleged policy; Aetna declined to comment.

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