Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched an investigation into UnitedHealth Group over alleged deceptive and unlawful practices that denied or delayed medically necessary care for Texans. The probe follows reports that the company improperly overrode physicians’ medical judgments and denied care treating physicians considered necessary.
The allegations include financially incentivizing nursing homes to delay hospitalizing patients and retroactively withdrawing prior authorization for a procedure, leaving a patient with a large medical bill.
Paxton’s office has issued Civil Investigative Demands to UnitedHealth to gather evidence about potential violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and other state laws.