In scathing ruling, judge rips insurer for putting 'bottom line' over patients' health

[Eugene]

Source: CNN

In scathing ruling, judge rips insurer for putting 'bottom line' over patients' health

By Wayne Drash, CNN
Updated 2004 GMT (0404 HKT) March 6, 2019

(CNN) — In a scathing decision, a federal judge blasted a subsidiary of the nation's largest insurance company for focusing on the "bottom line as much or more" than patients' health, saying the insurer illegally denied treatment to thousands of people. The judge also slammed the company's medical directors for being "deceptive" under oath.

US Chief Magistrate Judge Joseph Spero issued his decision Tuesday against United Behavioral Health, a unit of UnitedHealthcare, saying the insurer created internal policies that effectively discriminated against those seeking mental health and substance abuse treatment.

"It is well-established that effective treatment of mental health and substance use disorders includes treatment aimed at preventing relapse or deterioration of the patient's condition and maintaining the patient's level of functioning. UBH Guidelines deviate from that standard," Spero said.

Legal observers called the decision one of the most important and most thorough rulings ever issued against an insurance company, at the federal level, on mental health issues.

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Read more: https://edition.cnn.com/2019/03/06/health/unitedhealthcare-ruling-mental-health-treatment/index.html

[putinwork]

1. Insurance company tactics

It’s truly sickening when insurance companies put excessive profits over people and their lives.

[UpInArms]

2. These are the death panels

Despicables