Lawmakers call for curbs on UnitedHealth’s growing empire Casey Ross Bob Herman Tara Bannow Lizzy Lawrence By Casey Ross, Bob Herman, Tara Bannow, and Lizzy Lawrence

https://www.statnews.com/2024/12/23/unitedhealth-group-lawmakers-consider-antitrust-breakup-health-care-giant/?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_fudU5Eem-HcWTLNtcpCJ0LlYzvzgMzlCluO3-VBO7gOZvocg43DcrWiOMsY8G3aiwKjpdzBDkS9ce9i-GwPOC9RlGtg&_hsmi=339774288&utm_content=339774288&utm_source=hs_email Democratic lawmakers are calling for aggressive action to curb the increasing market power of UnitedHealth Group, including a possible breakup of a business empire they say is undermining competition, corrupting Medicare, and hurting vulnerable patients. They condemned the targeted killing of Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealth’s insurance business. But they said the display of resentment and rage that followed was neither new nor surprising at a time when people feel powerless to defend themselves against a company that controls their doctors, their data, and their insurance policies. “For the sake of patients, taxpayers, and independent practices, policymakers should act to prohibit joint ownership of health insurers and their provider subsidiaries, including physicians and pharmacies,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren told STAT. My colleagues’ investigation into UnitedHealthy this year exposed deeply embedded conflicts within its sprawling network of businesses. The latest installment finds that UnitedHealth pays some of the physician practices it owns significantly more than it pays other physician groups in the same market for similar services. https://www.statnews.com/unitedhealth-group-investigation-health-care-colossus-series/?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8RoYhfxKrLD_tKREVwIKNCxm_Fgytgexrzn_q2EgJ2N5TQqMCh8fuZBDVtkNap2oMywgeLKcofNtVWAdDwLQoEbwUArQ&_hsmi=339774288&utm_content=339774288&utm_source=hs_email