The American Hospital Association wants the Labor Department to investigate the analytics company MultiPlan and its large insurer clients to determine whether they engage in business practices that disadvantage patients and providers.
According to a New York Times investigation published Sunday, MultiPlan and customers such as UnitedHealth Group subsidiary UnitedHealthcare, CVS Health subsidiary Aetna and Cigna boost their finances by dispensing low payments to out-of-network providers and burdening patients with large bills.
Related: AdventHealth-MultiPlan suit spotlights out-of-network pay fight
"The AHA urges the Department of Labor to immediately open an investigation into these practices and hold companies like MultiPlan and its corporate commercial insurer partners to account for these unconscionable practices, distorted incentives, potential violations of [Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974], and ultimately, harms to American patients and employees," AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack wrote to acting Labor Secretary Julie Su on Tuesday.
MultiPlan countered that the New York Times misunderstands what the company does and how it contains costs. "We fundamentally disagree with the depiction of our position in the industry and the services that we provide," the company said in a news release Monday. "MultiPlan plays an incredibly vital role in the entire healthcare ecosystem."
According to the company, it saved insurers, employers and patients $23 billion last year. MultiPlan did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
