Senators Investigate UnitedHealth Incentives Limiting Nursing Home Hospitalizations

Democratic Senators Ron Wyden and Elizabeth Warren are investigating UnitedHealth Group over allegations that the company incentivizes nursing homes to reduce hospital transfers for residents enrolled in its institutional special needs plans (I-SNPs), potentially compromising patient health to cut costs. These concerns stem from a Guardian investigation and whistleblower claims that UnitedHealth offered bonuses to nursing homes for limiting hospitalizations and pressured residents into do-not-resuscitate and do-not-intubate orders. UnitedHealth denies these allegations, asserting its programs provide high-quality, personalized care, and has filed a defamation lawsuit against The Guardian. Despite UnitedHealth's denials and a briefing provided to Congress, the senators remain concerned about the incentives created by UnitedHealth’s cost-saving measures and their impacts on vulnerable seniors and nursing home residents. The senators have requested detailed company records to understand the structure and effects of these programs, emphasizing that patient safety should not be sacrificed for profit. This probe highlights broader issues about the influence of large healthcare corporations on patient care and the balance between cost management and medical necessity.