Health

cbabe

(4,536 posts) Thu Jan 9, 2025, 11:53 AM Jan 9

'Out of control': Cancer surgeon claims UnitedHealthcare questioned her mid-procedure [View all]

https://www.rawstory.com/out-of-control-cancer-surgeon-tells-of-insurance-co-questioning-her-mid-procedure/

'Out of control': Cancer surgeon claims UnitedHealthcare questioned her mid-procedure

Jennifer Bowers Bahney
Jan 9, 2025

A breast cancer surgeon had to "scrub out mid-surgery" to call a UnitedHealthcare representative because the insurance giant questioned whether the procedure she was in the middle of performing was really necessary.

Dr. Elisabeth Potter posted her story to Instagram this week, and the post has gotten more than 221,000 likes.

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She continued, saying that while performing a Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator, or "DIEP," breast reconstruction for a cancer patient, "I got a phone call into the operating room saying that UnitedHealthcare wanted me to call them about one of the patients who was having surgery today — who's actually asleep, having surgery."

"And, you know, said I had to call 'right now.' So, I scrubbed out of my case and I called UnitedHealthcare, and the gentleman said he needed some information about her. Wanted to know her diagnosis and whether her inpatient stay should be justified. And I was like, 'Do you understand this? She's asleep right now and she has breast cancer?' And the gentleman said, 'Actually, I don't — that's a different department that would know that information.'"

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41 replies

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'Out of control': Cancer surgeon claims UnitedHealthcare questioned her mid-procedure [View all] cbabe Jan 9 OP

This message was self-deleted by its author onecaliberal Jan 9 #1

Put that insurance worker in jail. ....he would murder the patient. Trueblue1968 Jan 9 #34

Insurance is out of control, yes; but why did the surgeon take the call mid-procedure? unblock Jan 9 #2

Don't know why the surgeon took the call. Could be cbabe Jan 9 #3

I think once the procedure has started, they should finish it and resolve any insurance matters after unblock Jan 9 #6

That sounds correct and medically best. Until lawyers and money people stick their noses in. Which is the stupid cbabe Jan 9 #8

It's amazing how some people want to put the onus on the healthcare provider. . . UniqueUserName Jan 9 #10

Yeah. Poor judgement. I wouldn't want her as my surgeon for anything more than a hangnail. 3Hotdogs Jan 9 #38

I agree in principle, but there's a major power disparity in play here that can't be ignored. ShazzieB Jan 9 #39

That's for sure, it's an incredibly f*cked up way of delivering healthcare unblock Jan 9 #40

We have that luxury. This doc was protecting the patient mahina Jan 9 #20

There was probably a very good reason. yardwork Jan 9 #26

How is a partial procedure billed?? unblock Jan 9 #28

I'm not sure I understand your question. yardwork Jan 9 #32

So what happens if half a surgery takes place, then is put on hold for more insurance questions. unblock Jan 9 #35

The insurance company probably wouldn't pay at all. yardwork Jan 9 #36

Exactly Unladen Swallow Jan 9 #33

While I don't want to criticize the surgeon, but she was not "asleep!" She was under GD ANESTHESIA!!! hlthe2b Jan 9 #4

I'm sure the surgeon fully understands the terms, but I'll give them a pass when talking to a reporter unblock Jan 9 #7

Seems kinda mean to pick on the surgeon for word use when insurance cbabe Jan 9 #9

Give me a damned break. I did not remove the insurance idiot's responsibility, but the surgeon hlthe2b Jan 9 #12

"under anesthesia" is beyond your understanding? REALLY? hlthe2b Jan 9 #13

Of course I understand it. Just saying either the surgeon or the reporter or the editor might have dumbed it down unblock Jan 9 #18

your misintepretation is beyond the pale, cbabe... hlthe2b Jan 9 #16

What the hell? I never even implied that the surgeon did NOT understand the terms. WTF? hlthe2b Jan 9 #11

Ummm. Ok. Bye now. cbabe Jan 9 #15

Gratefully... hlthe2b Jan 9 #17

I think you're reading much too much into some of the posts on this thread. unblock Jan 9 #22

I am talking about what the surgeon said to the insurance official, not a reporter. It is the surgeon's hlthe2b Jan 9 #23

I have no particular insight into that conversation except the surgeon's account as filtered through the reporting unblock Jan 9 #24

The title of your #4 had me confused -- progree Jan 9 #19

Yes... Thank you for taking the time to read & think about it rather than make the accusations hlthe2b Jan 9 #21

UHC is lying, they knew exactly what they was doing with this case. Irish_Dem Jan 9 #5

"Collins described crying .. while handling calls from desperate patients, as supervisors laughed." [UnitedHealthcare] progree Jan 9 #14

Americans don't have to stand for this. yardwork Jan 9 #25

Doesn't surprise me in the least Jilly_in_VA Jan 9 #27

And their stock was $8 up yesterday, and touted as a "market leader" Bristlecone Jan 9 #29

Fucking gross abuse of power. Evolve Dammit Jan 9 #30

This is an example of folks unable to say no. Whoever LuckyLib Jan 9 #31

I think I would second-guess the insurance company before I second-guessed the doctor. But that's just me. NBachers Jan 9 #37

Drop everything you're doing and talk to me, an insurance agent !!! KS Toronado Jan 9 #41