Optum Reportedly Whittling Away at Medicaid Coverage for Autism Therapy

Optum is reportedly executing a multi-pronged plan to curb spending on applied behavior analysis (ABA) provided to patients covered by Medicaid. The insurer targets its Medicaid-contracted autism therapy networks in Arizona, Nebraska, Tennessee, Virginia, New Jersey, Indiana and Louisiana, according to a report by the nonprofit investigative journalism outfit ProPublica. The plan is a response […]

Brian Thompson, UnitedHealthcare CEO, Fatally Shot in ‘Brazen, Targeted’ Attack 

An unknown suspect fatally shot the CEO of major health insurer UnitedHealthcare on Wednesday. Brian Thompson, who was named CEO of UnitedHealthcare in April 2021, was shot at approximately 6:40 a.m. outside of a hotel in Midtown Manhattan, according to an NYPD press conference. Law enforcement described the attack as “brazen, targeted” in the press […]

Billion-Dollar Legal Losses Could Force Payers to Reevaluate Their Behavioral Health Strategies

Payers don’t lose. That’s been true in the health care space for, pretty much, forever. But I’m tracking a handful of developments that kick at discrete moments of accountability for health plans. The health insurance industry is a land of leviathans. Today, there are four, maybe five, companies that truly matter in the grand scheme. […]

Why the Behavioral Health Industry Shouldn’t Get Too Worked Up About Recent Layoffs

The trend-that-must-not-be-named is back: Layoffs.  Behavioral health so often has to paste on a smile while muddling through its many challenges. So often, that leads to worries about being too cheery. The last several weeks have seen seriously positive developments. But another development hauls the industry off cloud nine and back to earth with a […]

How Adding 1M Students Through a Partnership with UnitedHealthcare Will Help Hazel Health

UnitedHealthcare’s recent partnership with the digital school-focused health care provider Hazel Health will benefit more than just the health plans’ members. The payer will cover the costs of startup partnerships with Hazel Health and school districts to provide students with mental health services. All students, regardless of payer or coverage status, will have access to […]

Wit v. United Behavioral Health Proves the Courts Are the Wrong Place to Reform Health Plan Oversight

Don’t give up hope just yet on the parity fight in the courts following the latest development in Wit v. United Behavioral Health. But don’t forget this: No shortage of the collective troubles of the American political and business worlds come from expecting the courts to see things a certain way. If behavioral health care wants […]

Appeals Court Orders Judge Over Wit v. United Behavioral Health to Comply with Previous Rulings

The district court judge over Wit v. United Behavioral Health has been ordered by the appeals court to come into compliance with its previous orders. The order, in addition to calling on the judge over the case to comply with previous rulings, puts to bed questions about reprocessing allegedly wrongfully denied claims. Once seen as […]

UnitedHealth Group’s Optum Cuts 100+ Jobs, Including Behavioral Health Roles

Optum, UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH)’s services arm, has reportedly laid off behavioral health managers and other roles in a restructuring effort that impacted at least 100 employees. A significant number of layoffs will impact employees at Optum-owned Landmark, an in-home medical group, according to Fierce Healthcare. Social workers and social work managers were also laid […]

UnitedHealth Group Tight-Lipped on Behavioral Health Plans After Expanding Segment

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) is keeping details about its behavioral health strategy close to the chest. The health care and insurance company highlighted that its behavioral health business was thriving just a few quarters ago in its Q2 2023 earnings call. Now, despite recently expanding its behavioral health segment, the company is highlighting other aspects […]