UNITEDHEALTHGROUP: Recent Pros and Cons of UNH

By Staff Reporters

***

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

A class action lawsuit has been filed in Minnesota against UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) over allegations that the health insurer and its subsidiary, NaviHealth, used a faulty algorithm to deny rehabilitation care for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries. California-based Clarkson Law Firm filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of Minnesota on Tuesday following an investigative report published by the health-focused news site Stat.

It alleges that UnitedHealth and its subsidiary, NaviHealth, used the computer algorithm named nH Predict to “systematically deny claims” of patients recovering from debilitating illnesses in nursing homes. According to the lawsuit, despite its 90% error rate, the company used the algorithm to deny claims, knowing that only 0.2% would appeal its decision. According to Stat, Humana (HUM), the nation’s second-largest player in the Medicare Advantage market behind UnitedHealth (UNH), also uses nH Predict. UnitedHealth (UNH) denied it used the NaviHealth predict tool to arrive at coverage decisions.

***

***

Ironically, UnitedHealth’s (NYSE:UNH) Optum Rx unit announced plans to move eight insulin products to “preferred” status on formularies to further expand the number of patients benefiting from $35 or less monthly out-of-pocket costs for the lifesaving therapy.

Optum Rx, UNH’s pharmacy benefit manager (PBM), said that effective January 1, 2024, all short- and rapid-acting insulins will move to Tier 1 in commercial formularies, a list of drugs the company maintains to indicate coverage for insured patients.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

***

The Health Economics of INSULIN

Read the Grassley-Wyden Report

Grassley-Wyden Insulin Report (FINAL).pdf (senate.gov)

Your comments are appreciated.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/082610254

THANK YOU

***

UPDATE: The Insulin Price Cap

By Staff Reporters

***

***

Limiting the $35 cap on the price of insulin only to Medicare members is not that consequential, experts said. While the cost of insulin has skyrocketed over the years, many people with private insurance already pay no more than that amount. About a fifth of those who take insulin and have health coverage through large employers pay more than $35 a month for the medication, according to an analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation. More than a quarter of people with Affordable Care Act policies and nearly one-third of those insured through a small employer pay more than that threshold.

Some private insurers and states are taking action to help Americans afford the drug. UnitedHealthcare will eliminate out-of-pocket costs for insulin for certain policyholders starting next year, while 20 states have placed caps on co-payments. Also, two drug makers are working on inexpensive versions of the insulin medication, while some other manufacturers are offering deep discounts for certain patients. “Bottom line is I don’t think stripping it out will have a major impact on the private sector,” Gerard Anderson, a professor of health policy and management at Johns Hopkins University, said of the insulin cap.

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/082610254

FINANCIAL PLANNING: https://www.routledge.com/Comprehensive-Financial-Planning-Strategies-for-Doctors-and-Advisors-Best/Marcinko-Hetico/p/book/9781482240283

***

PODCAST: Prescription Patient Assistance Programs

BY ERIC BRICKER MD

With 43 Million Americans Having Lost Their Job at Some Point During the Pandemic and About 1/2 Those Jobs Providing Health Insurance… the 1st Group–People Who Do Not Have Health Insurance–Needs to Be Aware of How These Programs Work.

In this Video You Will Learn the Patient Assistance Program Process for:

1) 2 of the Most Common Types of Insulin

2) The Highest-Revenue Medication in America: Humira

**Note: At the Time of the Video’s Recording, the Unemployment Rate in the US was 15%. As of November 2021, the Unemployment Rate is 4.2%.

***

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Subscribe to the Medical Executive-Post

***

***

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/082610254

***