{"id":10749,"date":"2024-12-14T09:44:48","date_gmt":"2024-12-14T17:44:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lee.org\/blog\/?p=10749"},"modified":"2024-12-14T09:47:17","modified_gmt":"2024-12-14T17:47:17","slug":"medscape-com-alters-number-of-likes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lee.org\/blog\/2024\/12\/14\/medscape-com-alters-number-of-likes\/","title":{"rendered":"Medscape.com Alters Number of Likes"},"content":{"rendered":"

I reported<\/a> on an article about the killer of the UnitedHealthcare CEO a few days ago.<\/p>\n

The article had received 1827 “Likes” on their site as of 12-10-24. But today it only has 73 Likes. Why did Medscape alter the number of likes in their article?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I believe there is some turmoil in the ranks of Medscape about reporting on the animosity between healthcare workers and insurance! 1827 is a high, but not unreasonable number of likes for such an article.<\/p>\n

I wrote to Medscape, I’ll report any responses I get.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
\nHere’s the whole article today, Physicians Offer Little Sympathy for Slain Insurance CEO<\/a><\/p>\n

Barbara Feder Ostrov
\nDecember 06, 2024<\/p>\n

Many physicians reacted with the opposite of sympathy to the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson this week, reflecting pent-up frustration and anger over what they described as the health insurer\u2019s routine denials of care for sick or dying patients.<\/p>\n

The shocking killing in New York City sparked a wave of antipathy from doctors and patients for the nation\u2019s\u00a0largest health insurer<\/a>, which Thompson had led since 2021. UnitedHealthcare, a division of the conglomerate UnitedHealth Group, insures about 50 million Americans and reported more than\u00a0$281 billion<\/a>\u00a0in revenue in 2023. Thompson received compensation of more than\u00a0$10 million<\/a>\u00a0in 2023.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m waiting for a prior authorization before I shed any tears,\u201d\u00a0wrote<\/a>\u00a0Reddit user KR1735, listed as an internal medicine doctor, on the subreddit r\/medicine.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

One physician online recalled fighting with UnitedHealthcare over its denial of the low-cost drug\u00a0metformin<\/a>. Another recalled the insurer requiring a peer-to-peer review for prescribing\u00a0levodopa<\/a>, \u201ca drug so old it could join the AARP. The \u2018peer\u2019 I spoke with had never heard of Sinemet, Parkinson\u2019s, or the FDA,\u201d a Reddit user describing himself as a neurologist\u00a0wrote<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Particularly on Reddit, comments were so scathing that the moderators of the leading medical subreddit deleted one thread about Thompson\u2019s slaying, the Daily Beast\u00a0reported<\/a>. But clinicians\u2019 harsh criticism of the CEO and UnitedHealthcare\u2019s practices continued throughout the week on Reddit and other social media platforms.<\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re the CEO of one of the most comically evil companies in the US, you should be prepared for consequences, and the only surprise should be that this doesn\u2019t happen more often\u2026the fact no one is sad speaks to the legacy left behind; hope the millions were worth it,\u201d wrote Reddit user ThucydidesButthurt, listed as an anesthesiologist, on a separate thread on r\/medicine.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

A few physicians took a more measured approach.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile the murder of the UnitedHealthcare CEO is tragic, let\u2019s remember that thousands of Americans die every year when United denies coverage. Violence is never the answer, but we do need to find lawful ways to hold insurance executives accountable for their greed,\u201d\u00a0wrote<\/a>\u00a0Bluesky user \u201cLisa, MD,\u201d on the social media platform.<\/p>\n

\u2018Deny\u2019 and \u2018Defend\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The words \u201cdeny,\u201d \u201cdefend,\u201d and \u201cdepose\u201d were seen on shell casings at the crime scene, police said, echoing words used to describe how health insurers\u00a0\u201cdelay,\u201d \u201cdeny,\u201d and \u201cdefend\u201d<\/a>\u00a0to avoid paying for care in hopes of increasing profits. It\u2019s even the title of a\u00a02010 book<\/a>\u00a0on the insurance industry.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

UnitedHealthcare used algorithms to improperly deny mental health claims, a system three states deemed illegal, ProPublica\u00a0reported<\/a>. A STAT\u00a0investigation found<\/a>\u00a0the insurer similarly used algorithms to deny rehabilitation care for its Medicare Advantage enrollees.<\/p>\n

Earlier this year, an employee pension fund in Florida sued Thompson, UnitedHealth Group, and two other executives for alleged fraud and illegal insider trading, claiming that the executives did not disclose a federal antitrust investigation of the company, CNN\u00a0reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n

While some physicians pointed to a\u00a0chart<\/a>\u00a0showing that UnitedHealthcare denied nearly a third of all claims, more than other US insurers, comparing denial rates among insurers is challenging because insurers are largely\u00a0not required<\/a>\u00a0to report them. Insurers offering Affordable Care Act plans on state exchanges are required to report claim denials for those plans to federal officials.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat has bothered me the most is people that put fiduciary responsibility (eg, profits) above human lives, none more so than this company as run by him,\u201d wrote one Reddit user who identified himself as an MD otolaryngology professor. \u201cWhen other\u2019s (sic) human lives are deemed worthless, it is not surprising to have others view your life of no value as well.\u201d<\/p>\n