Shareholders of UnitedHealth Group (UHG) have asked the company's board of directors to release a report on how policies that limit or delay access to health care are impacting the company's brand and the broader economy. I'm looking for it.
of suggestion Shareholders have asked the UHG Board of Directors to produce a report examining “how the company's practices are impacting access to health care and patient outcomes,” including: It also includes an analysis of how often prior authorization requirements and insurance coverage denials lead to treatment delays, abandonment, and serious adverse events. For patients. ”
In a statement of support, shareholders said UHG's policies that cause “delays or avoidance of medical care” “increase consumer debt, jeopardize the health of policyholders, and thereby reduce worker productivity.” “It threatens both the company's brand name and the portfolios of its investors by creating a burden on governments.” There is a risk of resource loss and tax increases. ”
The Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary led the application. Co-submitters include the Benedictine Sisters of Baltimore-Emanuel Monastery; Benedictine nuns of Mount St. Scholastica. Mercy Investment Services; Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia; Sisters of Humility of Mary, Ohio; and Trillium Asset Management.
When asked for a response, a UHG spokesperson declined to comment specifically on the proposal and referred inquiries to a representative. statement The company made an announcement last month regarding “misinformation.” UHG said it approves and pays 90% of medical claims submitted.
“There is highly inaccurate and grossly misleading information in circulation regarding our handling of insurance claims,” the statement said.
The company's billing procedures came under scrutiny from Congress last year, and a Senate report found that UnitedHealthcare and other large health insurers are disqualifying Medicare Advantage post-acute care services from pre-authorization applications for other types of care. It was found that a “significantly higher proportion'' of people were refusing the offer.
“Data provided by the companies shows that not only did insurers deny prior authorization for post-acute care more frequently than other services, but some companies had significantly higher denial rates.” says the report.
“For United Healthcare and CVS, the 2022 denial rate for prior authorization for post-acute care services was approximately three times the enterprise-wide denial rate. For Humana, the 2022 denial rate was more than 16 times It was expensive.”
Timnit Garmey, director of the Northwest Coalition for Responsible Investment (NWCRI), led the submission of the proposal. In a statement explaining the request, Garmey referenced the recent killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
“UNH has been under media and Congressional attention for some time due to its market power, aggressive marketing of Medicare Advantage, and questionable use of AI algorithms to deny care to patients. '' Garmey said. “As the tragic killing of UNH's Brian Thompson made clear, public anger over the prohibitive costs and limited access to health care in our country has reached dangerous levels.”
NWCRI is part of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), which describes itself as a “coalition of faith and values-based investors.” ICCR had previously submitted a proposal to UHG asking it to produce a report explaining the company's use of artificial intelligence and racial disparities within the company.
—Updated at 5:29 p.m.
