Aetna changes policy on errors

Health insurer Aetna is requiring hospitals to waive patient bills when certain medical errors occur and to apologize to families of patients hurt by the mistakes, the company said.

The template for future insurance contracts calls for hospitals to report events such as surgery on the wrong patient or body part to accrediting agencies within 10 days.

The goal isn’t to punish hospitals, said Aetna’s chief medical officer, Troyen Brennan. “It is important to take steps that will increase hospitals’ focus on why ‘never events’ happen, promote shared information and facilitate improved processes that will prevent future events,” Brennan said.