Boycott UnitedHealthcare in Federal Open Season 2023!!
Don't be Complicit in Discrimination Against People with HIV/AIDS
According to Fierce Pharma, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has evidence of Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM) abuse by UnitedHealthcare (NYE: UNH) and its PBM OptumRx. In 2021, AIDS advocates from across the U.S. conducted a major protest at UNH’s corporate headquarters in Minnetonka, MN.
AHF found that UNH’s aggressive practices forced many small and independent pharmacies out of business. UNH reduced compassionate PBM practices by reducing patient choice.
“How much money does United Healthcare really need?” stated Tracy Jones, National Director for Grassroots Mobilization Initiatives for AHF. “It is repulsive how they continue to put profit over people.” Their actions may be robbing patients of compassionate and affordable care at specialty and independent pharmacies. It is shocking that UNH does not understand its role in providing for the healthcare needs of chronically ill persons.
In 2023, Fierce Pharma reported that AHF had targeted OptumRx for its “arbitrary penalties” on small and independent pharmacies. OptumRx’s abusive fees could discourage pharmacy professionals from providing specialty care for their patients at independent pharmacies in urban areas. OptumRx’s “arbitrary fees” could add to patient stress and illness if they are forced to travel longer distances for pharmacy care.
On the basis of these reports, I urge federal employees not to be complicit with what AHF and others see as “arbitrary fees” and PBM abuse by OptumRx and UNH. During the Federal Open Season for healthcare insurance, boycott UNH and OptumRx! Oppose these abusive policies by UNH! Make your voice heard!!
Boycott UNH/OptumRx’s abuse of people living with AIDS. Make other insurance selections. Help your federal coworkers understand the “abusive” PBM practices of UNH so they can make an educated and compassionate health insurance choice.
On Friday, October 27, 2023, UNH closed at $524 per share on the New York Stock Exchange. AHF calls UNH a “medical insurance giant.” According to MacroTrends. see https://www.macrotrends.net/stocks/charts/UNH/unitedhealth-group/gross-profit#:~:text=UnitedHealth%20Group%20gross%20profit%20for%20the%20twelve%20months%20ending%20September,a%2014.31%25%20increase%20from%202021., “UNH had a gross profit for the twelve months ending September 30, 2023 was $158.811B, a 108.09% increase year-over-year.”
In 2023, the U.S. Department of Labor alleged that UNH denied thousands of patients' payments for emergency room services and urinary drug screenings. The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.
This case affirms AHF’s claims that UNH/OptumRx abuse patients. Again, I call on all federal employees, during Federal Open Season, to BOYCOTT UNH! Federal employees do not want to be complicit with abusive PBM practices that put UNH’s profits over the lives of their chronically ill members of the federal employee community.
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James Patterson is a labor economist and federal retiree. He is not the novelist of the same name. Send speaking invitations to JEPCapitolHill@gmail.com