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ShazzieB

(19,398 posts)
Sat Dec 14, 2024, 02:02 AM Dec 14

Doctor calls out claim denials amid UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting

Last edited Sat Dec 14, 2024, 04:07 PM - Edit history (1)

(NewsNation) — A primary care physician in the wake of a UnitedHealthcare CEO’s killing has highlighted growing frustrations within the medical community over insurance company practices, particularly aggressive claim denials.

Dr. Saju Mathew, a 20-year veteran physician, told NewsNation Monday that insurance companies are increasingly blocking critical medical procedures through complex “prior authorization” processes.

“We as doctors have been crying, screaming on the top of our lungs regarding how lots of insurance companies are denying claims on a daily basis,” Mathew said on “NewsNation Now.” He cited examples of patients being unable to obtain routine tests like mammograms without extensive bureaucratic hurdles.

*snip*

Mathew said that UnitedHealthcare denies one in three claims, a trend he says is symptomatic of a broader industry problem. The company reported $281 billion in revenue last year. “But it’s just not UnitedHealthcare. It’s really all insurance companies,” he said.

Mathew argued that meaningful change would require congressional action, suggesting legislators should mandate transparency about insurance denial rates and restore medical decision-making power to physicians and patients.

Lots more at link: https://www.newsnationnow.com/health/doctor-insurance-claims-unitedhealthcare-ceo-shooting/

***Obligatory disclaimer: No, the awful things Insurance companies do don't excuse murder; killing people is wrong; I am not celebrating the UHC CEO''s death, etc., etc.***
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Doctor calls out claim denials amid UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting (Original Post) ShazzieB Dec 14 OP
Dr Mathew . . . AverageOldGuy Dec 14 #1
I laughed at that, too Skittles Dec 14 #2
Of course not. Fascists don't give a flying fuck about health care. Karasu Dec 14 #3
THIS malaise Dec 14 #7
"Mathew argued that meaningful change would require congressional action..." J_William_Ryan Dec 14 #4
How to break the strangle hold Meowmee Dec 14 #5
Keep this front and center malaise Dec 14 #6
The knee-jerk objection I always hear to socialized medicine is Scrivener7 Dec 14 #8
Yes, because right now doctors drop everything for you if you need help durablend Dec 14 #10
What the Insurance companies do may not be murder, but it's pretty cold-blooded, Greybnk48 Dec 14 #9

AverageOldGuy

(2,461 posts)
1. Dr Mathew . . .
Sat Dec 14, 2024, 03:29 AM
Dec 14

. . . is living in a dream world if he thinks Congress will do anything.

I don’t recall the details, wish I did, but in the past week I was halfway watching one of the regulars on daytime MSNBC who was interviewing a guy who laid it out about healthcare industry lobbying. He said 60% ( or maybe it was more ) of the lobbyists in DC are from the healthcare mob and anytime Congress even thinks about legislation affecting them, they are all over the place passing out campaign donations.

For the longest time we donated $100-$200 a year to our Senator and Representative, neither of whom paid any attention to us. Couple of years ago I got a look at a photo of our Representative’s office ( he posted photos ). The walls were covered with fish he had caught, most of them deep-sea fish that he caught on fishing trips paid for by corporations that financed his campaigns. We have made not a single campaign donation since.


I’ll make the same disclaimer about shooting “health care scam” executives . But it certainly did get their attention. For a few minutes at least.

Skittles

(161,809 posts)
2. I laughed at that, too
Sat Dec 14, 2024, 03:34 AM
Dec 14

congressional action with repukes WILL NOT HAPPEN

heck, they will make it worse - trashing ACA, Medicare, ANYTHING THAT HELPS PEOPLE

J_William_Ryan

(2,430 posts)
4. "Mathew argued that meaningful change would require congressional action..."
Sat Dec 14, 2024, 04:33 AM
Dec 14

The only meaningful action by Congress would be comprehensive expansion of Medicare – which of course Republicans would never allow.

Scrivener7

(53,955 posts)
8. The knee-jerk objection I always hear to socialized medicine is
Sat Dec 14, 2024, 01:58 PM
Dec 14

"You have to wait MONTHS for elective or non-emergency procedures!!1!"

No one ever talks about the fact that you have a 1 in 3 chance of being denied for essential care in our "best system in the world!!1!"

durablend

(8,220 posts)
10. Yes, because right now doctors drop everything for you if you need help
Sat Dec 14, 2024, 02:53 PM
Dec 14

(sarcasm, in case that wasn't obvious)

Greybnk48

(10,475 posts)
9. What the Insurance companies do may not be murder, but it's pretty cold-blooded,
Sat Dec 14, 2024, 02:51 PM
Dec 14

callous, deadly, and not even close to what people think of when they say health "care."

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