Health Care’s Colossus: Uncovering UnitedHealth Group’s Profit-Driven Practices
In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, UnitedHealth Group managers were pushing doctors to meet targets and see more patients to boost profits. Despite the surge in Covid-19 deaths and the absence of a vaccine, the focus within UnitedHealth practices shifted to maximizing revenue from older patients’ chronic illnesses, particularly through Medicare Advantage visits.
Emails from UnitedHealth Group managers were filled with urgency and incentives for doctors to schedule more appointments and complete all Medicare Advantage visits. One email even offered “ADDITIONAL BONUSES!!” for doctors who met their targets, encouraging them to see older patients on weekends. The company went as far as enticing Medicare Advantage patients with $75 gift cards if they completed a checkup.
The pressure to increase patient visits and revenue generation was palpable within UnitedHealth practices, painting a picture of profit-driven priorities amidst a global health crisis. This raises concerns about the ethical implications of prioritizing financial gains over patient care, especially during a time of heightened vulnerability and uncertainty.
As part of the ongoing series on Health Care’s Colossus, it is crucial to shed light on how UnitedHealth Group leverages its unrivaled physician empire to maximize profits and expand its influence. The revelations from the emails underscore the need for transparency and accountability in the healthcare industry, ensuring that patient care remains the top priority above all else.
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