A Surgeon Slams UnitedHealthcare After Insurance Giant Allegedly Disputing Patient Care in Mid-Operation
Dr. Elisabeth Potter, a plastic surgeon in Texas, has accused UnitedHealthcare of disrupting her care for a patient undergoing breast reconstructive surgery. The incident occurred when Potter received a phone call in the operating room, allegedly from an insurance representative, asking for information about the patient’s diagnosis and inpatient stay justification.
According to Potter, the representative did not have access to the patient’s full medical information despite the procedure being pre-approved. The surgeon was forced to interrupt the surgery, which is a significant breach of protocol, to take the call.
Stopping a surgery can increase the risk of infections and other complications, as the area outside the operating room is not sterile. The patient would also have to remain under anesthesia for a longer period, increasing the risk of complications such as nausea and blood clots.
UnitedHealthcare has disputed Potter’s claims, stating that the company would never ask a physician to step out of surgery and that doing so would create potential safety risks. The insurance giant has faced numerous allegations of denying medically necessary treatments, including a recent report that found the company has allegedly cut therapies for over 10,000 autistic children.
Potter’s experience is not an isolated incident, as many healthcare providers and patients have shared their own horror stories of denied claims. One pediatric neurology nurse on Reddit alleged that UnitedHealthcare has denied anti-seizure medications for children with epilepsy, forcing patients to experience uncontrolled seizures before approving treatment.
The incident has sparked outrage on social media, with many users expressing shock and disgust at the insurance giant’s actions. Potter’s experience highlights the challenges faced by healthcare providers and patients in navigating the complex and often conflicting world of insurance.