Connect with us

Kaiser Health News

A ‘Payday Loan’ From a Health Care Behemoth

Published

on

by Dan Weissmann
Tue, 06 Jun 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Alex Shteynshlyuger, a urologist with a practice in New York City, feels surrounded by UnitedHealth Group. He has seen the company gobble up private practices and says it’s slow to pay claims. It also started offering cash-flow services that, Shteynshlyuger says, feel a lot like payday loans.

UnitedHealth Group is the largest employer of physicians in the United States. And it’s growing.

Has the company become too big?

In this episode of “An Arm and a Leg,” host Dan Weissmann looks into this “behemoth” company and the obstacles antitrust regulators face in keeping up with its rapid growth.

Dan Weissmann


@danweissmann

Host and producer of “An Arm and a Leg.” Previously, Dan was a staff reporter for Marketplace and Chicago’s WBEZ. His work also appears on All Things Considered, Marketplace, the BBC, 99 Percent Invisible, and Reveal, from the Center for Investigative Reporting.

Credits

Emily Pisacreta
Producer

Adam Raymonda
Audio Wizard

Afi Yellow-Duke
Editor

Click to open the Transcript

Transcript: A ‘Payday Loan’ From a Health Care Behemoth

Note: “An Arm and a Leg” uses speech-recognition software to generate transcripts, which may contain errors. Please use the transcript as a tool but check the corresponding audio before quoting the podcast.

“An Arm and a Leg” is a co-production of KFF Health News and Public Road Productions.

To keep in touch with “An Arm and a Leg,” subscribe to the newsletter. You can also follow the show on Facebook and Twitter. And if you’ve got stories to tell about the health care system, the producers would love to hear from you.

To hear all KFF Health News podcasts, click here.

And subscribe to “An Arm and a Leg” on SpotifyApple PodcastsStitcherPocket Casts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.

USE OUR CONTENT

This story can be republished for free (details).

By: Dan Weissmann
Title: A ‘Payday Loan’ From a Health Care Behemoth
Sourced From: kffhealthnews.org/news/podcast/a-payday-loan-from-a-health-care-behemoth/
Published Date: Tue, 06 Jun 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.biloxinewsevents.com/california-confronts-the-threat-of-tranq-as-overdose-crisis-rages/

Kaiser Health News

California Dengue Cases Prompt Swift Response From Public Health Officials

Published

on

kffhealthnews.org – Claudia Boyd-Barrett – 2024-11-12 04:00:00

SUMMARY: Jason Farned and his team at the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District have been preparing for dengue’s arrival, with the virus now detected in California. The spread of Aedes mosquitoes, capable of transmitting dengue, has been fueled by climate change and international trade. In 2023, California saw 13 locally acquired cases, prompting efforts like surveillance, pesticide applications, and public education. Authorities are also exploring techniques like sterile mosquito releases to reduce populations. Public cooperation is key, as Aedes mosquitoes are now established in 24 counties, and local outbreaks pose a growing threat to public health.

Read the full article

The post California Dengue Cases Prompt Swift Response From Public Health Officials appeared first on kffhealthnews.org

Continue Reading

Kaiser Health News

Older Americans Living Alone Often Rely on Neighbors or Others Willing To Help

Published

on

kffhealthnews.org – Judith Graham – 2024-11-12 03:00:00

SUMMARY: Donald Hammen, 80, relies on his neighbor Julie McMahon for support as he lives alone in Minneapolis. With no close family, he has formed connections with friends, former colleagues, and fellow volunteers, who help him navigate daily challenges. However, he remains uncertain about future care if his health declines. Many older adults like Hammen, lacking close family ties, face similar dilemmas. AARP research shows that only a quarter of solo agers can count on someone for help with basic tasks. Building local support networks is essential, yet many find it challenging to establish reliable connections for assistance in their later years.

Read the full article

The post Older Americans Living Alone Often Rely on Neighbors or Others Willing To Help appeared first on kffhealthnews.org

Continue Reading

Kaiser Health News

Watchdog Calls for Tighter Scrutiny of Medicare Advantage Home Visits

Published

on

kffhealthnews.org – Fred Schulte, KFF Health News – 2024-11-08 04:00:00

SUMMARY: A new federal audit from the Health and Human Services Inspector General highlights concerns over $7.5 billion in Medicare Advantage overpayments linked to home visits that yielded no medical treatment in 2023. Despite these findings, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) declined to limit payments for such visits, arguing they enhance in-home care access. The audit suggests UnitedHealthcare accounted for a significant portion of contested payments, highlighting inefficacies in treating diagnosed conditions. Critics argue CMS needs stronger oversight to prevent potential waste of taxpayer dollars and enforce accurate diagnosis reporting.

Read the full article

The post Watchdog Calls for Tighter Scrutiny of Medicare Advantage Home Visits appeared first on kffhealthnews.org

Continue Reading

Trending