UnitedHealth reduced hospitalizations for nursing home seniors. Now it faces wrongful death claims

Published 3 hours ago
Source: theguardian.com
UnitedHealth reduced hospitalizations for nursing home seniors. Now it faces wrongful death claims

The company says it is protecting nursing home residents by curbing unnecessary hospital transfers. Whistleblowers allege cost-cutting tactics have endangered the elderly

Three nursing home residents died because employees of the American healthcare giant UnitedHealth Group helped delay or deny them critical hospital care, two pending lawsuits and a complaint to state authorities have alleged.

The three cases involve a UnitedHealth partnership initiative that places medical staff from the company’s direct care unit, Optum, inside nursing homes to care for residents insured by the company’s insurance arm.

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