UnitedHealthcare delayed its plan to examine and possibly claw back money from emergency room payments, after facing pushback from hospitals and doctors. Ransomware, covid-sniffing dogs and rising demand for mental health care are also in the news.
USA Today:
UnitedHealthcare Delays ER Claims Policy Following Backlash
Facing mounting criticism from hospitals and doctors groups, health insurance giant UnitedHealthcare said it will delay a policy that would scrutinize payments for non-urgent emergency room visits. The policy to review and potentially clamp down on some hospital payments drew outcries from the American Hospital Association and the American College of Emergency Physicians about potential harm of patients’ health and finances. In a Thursday statement, the Minnesota-based insurer said the policy will be halted until the end of the pandemic. (Alltucker and Freeman, 6/10)
In other health care industry news —
The Wall Street Journal:
The Ruthless Hackers Behind Ransomware Attacks On U.S. Hospitals: ‘They Do Not Care’
A ransomware attack on a national hospital chain nearly brought Las Vegas hospitals to their knees. Another attack in Oregon abruptly shut down alerts tied to patient monitors tracking vital signs. In New York, one county’s only trauma center briefly closed to ambulances, with the nearest alternative 90 miles…
