politics

• In November, Pro Publica reported that UnitedHealthcare “through its subsidiary Optum, is focused on reducing “overutilization” of services for patients covered through its privately contracted Medicaid plans that are overseen by states…these plans cover some of the nation’s poorest and most vulnerable patients.”

• Pro Publica found that UnitedHealthcare rewarded workers with bonuses based partly on their ability to convince providers to reduce the level of care or by referring therapists to peer review. According to reporter Annie Waldman, “former employees told us how they steamrolled providers to boost cost savings for the company. savings for the company. One said he felt like “a cog in the wheel of insurance greed.”

and other assorted news