Senate was investigating claim denials from UnitedHealthcare

December 5, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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CAPITOL HILL AND NATIONWIDE — UNITEDHEALTHCARE and its CEO Brian Thompson, who was fatally shot Wednesday morning in what police believe was a targeted attack, were already the subject of a senate panel investigation, the Associated Press reported on Thursday, Dec. 5. A senate panel was investigating the frequency and prevalence of denied care to patients enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans (the private version of traditional Medicare) by UnitedHealthcare, a leader in this market, and two other major insurers.

A report from the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee’s report that came out earlier this year revealed that UnitedHealthcare relied increasingly on its automated system to review claims, and during the same time denials increased for post-acute treatment, which includes nursing home or rehabilitation care. Almost a quarter of the claims submitted were denied. Another lawsuit that the United States initiated against UnitedHealthcare involved a merger with the insurer and Change Healthcare, Inc., the nation’s largest electronic data interchange clearinghouse, with the U.S. and other plaintiff states opposing what they called an illegal move.

UnitedHealthcare reportedly took in $281 million in revenue during 2023, the New York Times reports. Thompson, who became CEO in 2021, received a $10.2 million compensation package for the same year.

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