UnitedHealthcare has agreed to pay a $100,000 fine after the Rhode Island health insurance commissioner's office found that the payer did not follow state law when it denied substance use disorder treatment claims.
Rhode Island law requires health insurers to follow American Society of Addiction Medicine guidelines, according to a March 30 news release from the commissioner's office.
UnitedHealthcare's coverage criteria was materially inconsistent with the guidelines between 2015 and 2018, the office's review found.
UnitedHealthcare did not admit wrongdoing but agreed to pay the fine and create a corrective action plan, according to the consent agreement.