From facing a proposed class-action suit over Medicare Advantage care denials to implementing the second wave of its plan to cut 20 percent of its prior authorization requirements, here are 10 updates on UnitedHealth Group Becker's reported since Oct. 31.
1. UnitedHealth Group and its health insurance arm, UnitedHealthcare, are facing a proposed class-action lawsuit alleging an AI algorithm wrongfully denied Medicare Advantage patients care.
2. The Justice Department is asking a Texas federal court to dismiss its case against SCA Health that alleged the company agreed with competitors not to poach senior-level employees. SCA is part of UnitedHealth Group's Optum division.
3. The United Health Foundation is donating $1 million toward humanitarian aid for civilians affected by the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
4. UnitedHealth Group named Charlie Baker to its board of directors. Mr. Baker is currently the president of the National College Athletic Association and served as the governor of Massachusetts from 2015 to 2023.
5. UnitedHealth Group led large payers in revenue and net income in the third quarter of 2023.
6. Optum will move out of an Eden Prairie, Minn.-based campus with 473,000 square feet of office space by the end of 2023.
7. UnitedHealth Group and Optum violated state and federal employee notification laws during mass layoffs that occurred earlier this year, two former employees alleged in a California federal court.
8. Greenville, S.C.-based Prisma Health asked a judge to reconsider its request for a restraining order against UnitedHealthcare over allegations that the insurer breached its confidentiality agreement with Prisma, as the two sides approach a Jan. 1 deadline to reach a new network agreement.
9. UnitedHealthcare implemented the second and final wave of prior authorization cuts.
10. UnitedHealth Group completed its acquisition of health technology firm EMIS Group.