I just want to acknowledge one of @gamestopās very best customers. Heās been buying something at GameStop every Wednesday for years. Behind every great company are your most loyal customers. Thank you @DanielW40094974!
Luigi Mangione releases first statement since his arrest:
āI am overwhelmed by - and grateful for - everyone who has written me to share their stories and express their support. Powerfully, this support has transcended political, racial, and even class divisions, as mail has flooded MDC from across the country, and around the globe. While it is impossible for me to reply to most letters, please know that I read every one that I receive. Thank you again to everyone who took the time to write. I look forward to hearing more in the futureā
Where Is the Money Going?
On a recent morning, we walked into my patientās hospital room on rounds. She was recovering from breast reconstruction with bilateral DIEPs after cancer. And there was sewage coming up through the floor of her shower. The hardworking nurses who are so used to making difficult situations work, were adjusting and working around it. A safety cone was placed in the bathroom door and a bedside commode had been brought into the room.
No one was surprised.
I want to know where the money is going. Weāre all paying insurance premiums. Hospitals are charging enormous amounts. Reimbursement rates for complex surgeries like DIEP flap reconstruction keep getting slashed. And yetā¦this is happening.
Healthcare is becoming more expensive, harder to access, and patients are paying the priceāliterally.
We all deserve answersš
If you feel the wind shifting, I feel it too. This entire situation has been a shock to navigate, but Iām solidābecause I know who I am.
No amount of noise or pressure changes the fact that I am a woman who works hard, tells the truth, and takes care of people. And when you stand firm in that, even when the wind is blowing hard, you donāt waver.
Lately, Iāve been thinking about what keeps me going. My patients, this work, and doing the right thing. And I keep coming back to something my grandfather used to say when we needed rain in Georgia:
š§ļø āRain down, Little Davidābig drops, close together.ā
And right now? That rain is falling exactly where we need it. The support has been overwhelming. My team has grown, I have an incredible legal team behind me, and @BillAckman has even generously stepped in to help cover legal expenses.
I never could have imagined asking for this helpābut here it is. So letās take it and turn it into real change in healthcare.
For now, Iām off to the operating roomābecause at the end of the day, Iām still here, doing what I love, taking care of my patients, and fighting for something bigger.
Thanks for being here with me š
On January 7th, 2025 I shared a video, after I was asked to call UnitedHealthcare from the operating room to answer administrative questions about the patient who was having surgery to treat breast cancer. Despite my efforts, they denied her stay.
UnitedHealthcare didnāt stop at calling me during surgery. Now, theyāve sent me a legal threatāand even worse? They ended up denying my cancer patientās hospital stay. Exactly what I was afraid would happen.
Staying overnight after major surgery isnāt optionalāitās medically necessary. But UnitedHealthcare decided they know better than the doctors caring for the patient.
When they called me while I was operating, I knew that if I didnāt step out and respond immediately, they might deny her stayāleaving her with a massive bill. So, with another surgeon in the OR, I scrubbed out and called them back. But after all of that? They denied her stay anyway.
And instead of fixing their broken system, they sent me a legal threat for speaking out.
Iām sharing their response in full, letting their words speak for themselves.
Let me be clear: I stand by everything I said. I told the truth. I was honest about whatās happening in our healthcare system. And I will not be silenced by legal threats when it comes to advocating for my patients and my ability to care for them.
Denying an overnight stay that a doctor orders is dangerous. The doctor caring for the patient should be able to make these decisions without delay, pressure, or harassment.
If I donāt speak up, I loseāmy integrity, my voice, and the opportunity to make a difference. And while itās intimidating to receive a letter like this from a company as powerful as UnitedHealthcare, I know where I stand.
I am a woman taking care of women affected by breast cancer. I do this work with all of my heart, and I will continue to speak up for my patientsābecause they deserve better.
I ask you to follow along, share this story, and have these conversations in your own communities. I know Iām not the only one dealing with this, and real change will take all of us telling our stories and standing up for whatās right.
Iām here for it. Are you?
Oh give me a fucking break...
Here is a list of documented complaints against United Healthcare, based on available information on the web:
Concealment of Complaints in Medicare Advantage Plans:
Whistleblowers accused United Healthcare of hiding hundreds of complaints related to enrollment fraud and misconduct in their Medicare Advantage plans to secure undeserved bonus payments from federal officials. This involved allegations of forged signatures and kickback schemes by sales agents, with the company allegedly not reporting these issues to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Use of AI to Deny Coverage:
United Healthcare was accused in a class action lawsuit of using an AI program, "nH Predict", to systematically deny post-acute care coverage for Medicare Advantage patients. The AI allegedly had a 90% error rate, yet was used to cut off payments for care, leading to significant out-of-pocket expenses or discontinued care for patients. (Source: Medical Economics)
Denial of Necessary Treatments:
Instances have been reported where United Healthcare denied coverage for necessary treatments like chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and anti-nausea medications for cancer patients, including pediatric cases, based on posts found on X and reports from individuals experiencing these denials.
Misleading Coverage Information and Billing Issues:
Consumers have complained about discrepancies between what they were told by representatives and what was actually covered, leading to unexpected out-of-pocket costs. There are also reports of billing issues where payments made were not correctly applied, resulting in continued billing for services already paid for or discrepancies in coverage status. ([Source: InsuranceDodo, BBB])
Service and Customer Experience Issues:
Numerous complaints highlight poor customer service, including long wait times, inconsistent information from representatives, language barriers, and difficulties in navigating the appeals process for denied claims. (Source: Consumer Affairs, BBB)
Appeals and Grievances Process Challenges:
The appeals process has been criticized for being cumbersome, with some complaints suggesting that the company discourages appeals by making the process difficult or by initially denying claims knowing that only a small percentage of policyholders would appeal. (Source: ProPublica, posts on X)
Alleged Quotas for Denying Claims:
There are allegations that United Healthcare had quotas for employees to meet regarding the denial of patient claims, which could indicate a policy aimed at maximizing profit through claim denials. ([Source: posts on X])
Manipulation of Medical and Patient Data:
UnitedHealth Group has been accused of manipulating medical and patient data through checklists and bonuses for doctors to diagnose conditions that would increase Medicare payments, affecting the integrity of healthcare delivery. ([Source: posts on X])
These complaints reflect a range of issues from systemic practices that might prioritize profit over patient care to individual experiences with customer service and coverage disputes. Keep in mind that while these are documented, they represent a selection of grievances and not the entirety of customer experiences with United Healthcare.