Participants in Hartford, Conn.-based CIGNA HealthCare plans will no longer need a referral from their primary care physicians to obtain covered obstetrical or gynecological services. The new policy is effective immediately for CIGNA health plans across the country, except in California, where it goes into effect Jan. 1, 1998. . . .Humana Inc. last week announced the introduction of "HumanaFreedom Plans," which allow members to see any primary care physician or specialist without designating a primary care doctor or getting a referral. The plans are being introduced in Daytona, Fla., Texas and Kentucky, and should be available in most other Humana markets by mid-summer. . . .Former Golden Eagle Insurance Co. owner John Mabee has agreed to pay $69 million in unsecured loans he owes the company. Meanwhile, the court overseeing the company's conservation was expected to decide Friday between competing buyout offers from Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. and American International Group Inc. (BI, May 26). . . .General Electric Co. cannot postpone payments for a $100 million award for patent infringement until the U.S. Supreme Court decides whether or not to hear an appeal of the case, Chief Justice William Rehnquist said. GE argued it will probably win on appeal but would not be able to recover any money paid before then to shareholders of Fonar Corp., which won the patent infringement case. . . .Chicago-based Rush Prudential Health Plans denies charges brought in a suit by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that it violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by not accommodating and ultimately firing an employee who was on disability leave for breast cancer. . . .In a move cheered by agent groups, Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman has ordered that sales and servicing of all crop insurance policies be handled by the private sector, beginning in the 1998 crop year, while the federal government will continue to subsidize, set terms and conditions and set rates for the insurance. . . .Mitsubishi Motor Manufacturing of America has settled a sexual harassment lawsuit for an undisclosed amount. The suit concerned one incident of harassment and is separate from two larger pending suits. . . .California employers' exposure to constructive discharge suits may be increased as a result of a state Supreme Court ruling last week. In Mullins vs. Rockwell International Corp., the court ruled that the statute of limitations for such suits does not begin to run until after an employee is actually terminated, not when he or she is demoted or reassigned. . . .The late Arthur Quern, former chairman and chief executive officer of Aon Risk Services Cos. Inc. who died in a plane crash last fall, will be honored June 6 at Gateway Foundation's 22nd annual Citizen of the Year Dinner, which recognizes an outstanding member of the Chicago community. . . .Julie A. Martin has been named acting vp of the political risk insurance department of the Overseas Private Investment Corp. Ms. Martin was previously deputy vp in the political risk insurance department.