After a major cyberattack on Change Healthcare in 2024, UnitedHealth gave no-interest loans to doctors to help with lost income. Now, the company is demanding fast repayment, as high as $750,000, within five days, despite earlier promises that repayment would start only when practices said their finances had recovered. Over $4.5 billion of the $9 billion loaned has already been repaid. UnitedHealth is now withholding insurance payments from some doctors to collect the rest.
Doctors like Dr. Christine Meyer and Dr. Purvi Parikh say they’re still struggling and can’t repay right away. Some lost over $1 million during the disruption. The American Medical Association is urging UnitedHealth not to force a one-size-fits-all repayment plan. Meanwhile, confusion continues as doctors report billing mistakes, missed notices, and financial pressure. Should doctors decide when to repay, or is UnitedHealth right to collect now?
1 comment:
This situation with UnitedHealth is tough. While it's fair for them to want the loans repaid, forcing doctors to pay back large amounts so quickly especially after promising flexibility seems unfair. Many practices are still recovering from the cyberattack, and a rushed repayment plan could push them into deeper financial trouble.
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