Insurers Own Docs, Raise Bills, No Better Care | Durham News

Health insurers are quietly buying up doctor offices, quietly inflating healthcare costs without improving patient care. A new Brown University study reveals that after UnitedHealthcare acquired practices via Optum, Medicare payments jumped $250 million annually — while doctors started documenting more conditions per patient, artificially boosting payments. Insurers pay their own doctors up to 61% above market rates to meet federal spending rules without hurting profits. With 80% of doctors now working for corporate owners, Congress is pushing back with antitrust bills — including one that would ban insurers from owning physician practices altogether. Listen in comfort: Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN: [email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting. Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates: https://sources.thednn.ai/0fbdd9e373338e25