August 12, 2021

United Behavioral Health and United Healthcare Insurance Co. will pay $2 million in penalties to resolve claims that the insurer unlawfully denied coverage for mental health and substance use disorder treatment in violation of laws that require health insurance plans to cover mental health and substance use disorder treatment the same way they cover physical health treatment. New York and the federal Department of Labor alleged that United reduced allowed amounts for mental health and substance abuse services provided by non-physicians, but not for medical treatments provided by non-physicians, and conducting utilization reviews for psychotherapy that were not conducted at the same rate for medical/surgical services.  In addition the penalty, United agreed to pay $13.6 million to affected participants and beneficiaries.  DOL; NY

Tagged in: Healthcare Fraud,