Billionaire investor Invoice Ackman pledged to cowl the authorized charges for a Texas physician in a dispute with UnitedHealth Group Inc. over her claims that the corporate requested her to wash out of an operation to justify a affected person’s care.
Ackman, who’s chief govt officer of Pershing Sq. Capital Administration, mentioned on X Thursday that he took down an earlier put up vital of the insurer after legal professionals for UnitedHealth informed him that the physician’s claims that he had amplified on social media had been unfaithful.
In a now-deleted put up on X, Ackman promoted a video earlier this week from Texas surgeon Elisabeth Potter, who alleged that UnitedHealth referred to as her out of an operation to query a affected person’s in a single day keep. UnitedHealth has disputed Potter’s account and mentioned the insurance coverage firm would by no means ask a physician to interrupt affected person care to return a name.
Together with his posts, one of many world’s most distinguished buyers is intensifying a dispute between a physician and the biggest US well being insurer taking part in out on social media. US insurers confronted a harsh response on-line following the December taking pictures demise of UnitedHealth govt Brian Thompson. Potter’s video went viral.
Ackman mentioned in an X post on Thursday he has no place in UnitedHealth however that he cares “about instances when insurers act inappropriately in denying protection which is why I took curiosity on this subject.” A consultant for Ackman didn’t reply to a request for remark early Friday.
Social media has turn into a strong power in opposition to insurers. Final yr, after widespread outcry on social media, insurance coverage large Elevance Well being Inc. backed off a coverage to restrict anesthesia protection when surgical procedure runs lengthy. The insurer cited “widespread misinformation.”
‘Completely credible’
Ackman, in his first put up on UnitedHealth’s dispute with Potter, referred to as on the US Securities and Change Fee to research the corporate and recommended that the insurer’s “profitability is massively overstated on account of its denial of medically essential procedures.”
In response, UnitedHealth reported concerns about Ackman’s put up to the SEC.
The corporate has additionally employed the defamation legislation agency Clare Locke to counter what it sees as inaccurate social media posts. Potter posted a duplicate of a letter she acquired from the agency.
Ackman mentioned he requested the corporate, Clare Locke and the physician for info to assist their claims.
In a subsequent post Thursday night, Ackman mentioned he had spoken to Potter and located her story “completely credible.” He pledged to cowl her authorized bills however mentioned he was nonetheless ready for extra info from the corporate to totally decide what occurred.
Potter mentioned in a telephone interview Friday morning that there’s documentation to assist her account and “on the proper time I’ll share that.” She’s retained attorneys who’ve responded to UnitedHealth’s letter, she mentioned.
UnitedHealth had no touch upon Ackman’s newest posts Thursday night. The corporate has mentioned Potter billed for the case incorrectly and that the affected person didn’t owe any cash. UnitedHealth mentioned the corporate permitted protection for the care, together with an in a single day keep.
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