## UnitedHealth Faces Scrutiny Over Allegations of Denying Care to Seniors

UnitedHealth, the United States' largest healthcare insurer, stands accused of going to great lengths to deny essential care to senior citizens, all in an effort to bolster its profit margins. According to an investigation by The Guardian, nurse practitioners have alleged that the company coerced them into altering patients' statuses to "do not resuscitate," even when those patients had specifically requested that all available treatments be utilized to keep them alive.

One nurse practitioner mentioned to The Guardian that UnitedHealth's actions were framed as being in the best interest of the patient, but in reality, they were not. Additionally, UnitedHealth allegedly tried to thwart patients from transferring to other hospitals, further endangering their health. Although the company denies these allegations, the new reporting sheds light on alarming practices within the U.S. healthcare system, where cost-cutting measures often come at the expense of patient care.

UnitedHealth has a documented history of devising methods to deny healthcare coverage. Notably, the company employed an artificial intelligence system that automatically refused claims for elderly patients. The healthcare giant has been mired in controversy, particularly after its CEO was murdered in December—a crime suspected to be motivated by anger over the systemic injustices within the company. Following a torrent of damning reports, UnitedHealth's shares have plummeted by almost 40% this year, and a recent Guardian report caused the stock price to drop an additional six percent.

Furthermore, UnitedHealth is facing numerous criminal and civil investigations, including probes into potential Medicare fraud, as reported by Reuters. CEO Andrew Witty abruptly resigned last week, citing "personal reasons" amid escalating scrutiny of the company's operations. Whether his resignation is connected to the ongoing negative publicity remains uncertain.

In a whistleblower lawsuit cited by The Guardian, it was revealed that nursing home staff were allegedly incentivized to share sensitive resident records. These records were then used by UnitedHealth sales teams to market their plans to residents and their families. For instance, a patient displaying clear signs of a stroke was denied proper care by a remote, underqualified UnitedHealth employee who erroneously diagnosed the patient with a minor condition. The delays in care led to a deterioration in the patient's health. Numerous similar instances have been reported.

According to former UnitedHealth nurse practitioner-turned-whistleblower Maxwell Ollivant, many patients may have been further harmed due to the denial of necessary care. Ollivant emphasized that reductions in the number of hospitalizations do not reflect patient outcomes. This ongoing investigation continues to underscore the troubling state of healthcare, placing UnitedHealth’s practices under intense scrutiny.