Leaked internal documents show that the insurance giant is culling providers of applied behavior analysis from its network and scrutinizing the medical necessity of therapy. Advocates say the company’s strategy may be illegal.

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MedPage Today

New York

United States

UnitedHealth Strategically Limits Access to Critical Treatment for Kids With Autism

There was a time when Sharelle Menard thought her son would never be able to speak. She couldn’t soothe Benji when he cried, couldn’t read him books he could follow, couldn’t take him out in public. “The screaming, and screaming, and screaming,” she said. “He would get so frustrated because he couldn’t communicate.”

Ad Fontes Media

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Warner Bros. Discovery

Atlanta

Fulton County

Georgia

UnitedHealth is strategically limiting access to critical treatment for kids with autism

Reporting Highlights
Secret Playbook:  Leaked documents show that UnitedHealth is aggressively targeting the treatment of thousands of children with autism across the country in an effort to cut costs. Critical Therapy:  Applied behavior analysis has been shown to help kids with autism; many are covered by Medicaid, federal insurance for poor and vulnerable patients. Legal Questions:  Advocates told ProPublica the insurer’s strategy may be viola…

Raw Story

John K. Byrne

Michael Rogers (publisher)

Leak reveals UnitedHealth strategy to cut critical treatment for kids

UnitedHealthcare and its parent, UnitedHealth Group, faced investigations, a congressional probe and simmering consumer anger over charges it was making billions by denying health care to the ill and elderly.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Block Communications

Pittsburgh

Allegheny County

Pennsylvania

Before shooting, CEO Brian Thompson worried about UnitedHealth’s negative image

Reporting HighlightsSecret Playbook:  Leaked documents show that UnitedHealth is aggressively targeting the treatment of thousands of children with autism across the country in an effort to cut costs.Critical Therapy:  Applied behavior analysis has been shown to help kids with autism; many are covered by Medicaid, federal insurance for poor and vulnerable patients.Legal Questions:  Advocates told ProPublica the insurer’s strategy may be violatin…

Alternet

Washington

District of Columbia

Revealed: UnitedHealth is strategically limiting access to critical treatment for kids with autism

Advocates told ProPublica the insurer’s strategy may be violating federal law.

Gizmodo

G/O Media

UnitedHealth Is Strategically Limiting Access to Critical Treatment for Kids With Autism - WorldNL Magazine

This story was originally published by ProPublica.
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There was a time when Sharelle Menard thought her son would never be able to speak. She couldn’t soothe…

BizToc

Reporting Highlights
Secret Playbook: Leaked documents show that UnitedHealth is aggressively targeting the treatment of thousands of children with autism across the country in an effort to cut costs.
Critical Therapy: Applied behavior analysis has been shown to help kids with autism; many are…

Upstract

Private healthcare companies are facing increased scrutiny following the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson over what appears to be dissatisfaction with the company’s exploitative policies and frequent denials of care. Recent investigations from ProPublica and reporter Annie Waldman find that UnitedHealthcare is aggressively trying to limit mental health coverage and treatment for thousands of children with autism in its latest effor…

Democracy Now!

UnitedHealth Profiteering Off Limiting Care for Children with Autism

(MedPage Today) -- This story was originally published by ProPublica. ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox.
There was a time when Sharelle...

UnitedHealth Is Strategically Limiting Access to Critical Treatment for Kids With Autism

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