From a range of legal and regulatory conundrums to broad initiatives to reach more members where they are, here are five stories about UnitedHealth Group.
1. Judge certifies class of UnitedHealth workers in retirement fund lawsuit
A Minnesota judge ruled that UnitedHealth Group employees contributing to an underperforming 401(k) fund could be considered part of a class in an ongoing lawsuit against the payer. Employees claim that UnitedHealth Group's inaction on the underperforming funds resulted in "hundreds of millions of dollars of damages and lost-opportunity costs."
2. UnitedHealthcare subpoenaed over Rhode Island data breach
Rhode Island's attorney general issued a subpoena against UnitedHealthcare and the state's transit authority over an August 2021 data breach that compromised 22,000 peoples' information. The payer allegedly "incorrectly shared" data with the transit authority, and neither party notified authorities of the breach until December.
3. Why UnitedHealthcare reprocessed 1.6M COVID-19 vaccine claims
UnitedHealthcare has reprocessed nearly all of its 1.6 million COVID-19 vaccination claims that underpaid providers. On average, adjusted claims cost $14.55, totalling to $23.9 million in reimbursed payments.
4. UnitedHealth Group: Telehealth is a ticket to driving health equity
UnitedHealth Group CMO Margaret-Mary Wilson, MD, said during a roundtable that the payer is continuing to rely on telehealth as a tool to address health inequities. The payer is using telehealth to begin a "longitudinal relationship" between care teams and patients.
5. UnitedHealth Group poised to develop in-home plans, care
UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty said during the company's fourth quarter earnings call that it is considering investing further into home-based care. While "broad home-based clinical care initiatives" will be a priority across the portfolio, COO Dirk McMahon said Optum specifically will be fleshing out its approach to home-based care.