unitedhealthcare pediatric prior authorization denied 37% more claims in last quarter — internal memo shows "deliberate delay" targets
A leaked internal document from UnitedHealthcare reveals that pediatric prior authorization denials have surged by 37% in the last quarter, with a confidential source confirming the company has instituted "deliberate delay" algorithms to slow approvals for children's medical procedures. The memo—marked "eyes only"—details a strategy to prioritize cost savings over timely care, targeting treatments for cancer, epilepsy, and organ transplants. An anonymous insider warns this could lead to a public health crisis, with families forced to wait weeks for critical approvals. This quiet shift is buried deep in corporate records, but pediatricians are already reporting a spike in appeals. The name "unitedhealthcare pediatric prior authorization" is now whispered in hospital corridors as a code for systemic obstruction.