UnitedHealth Patients Seek 8th Cir. Redo Over Billing Tactic

UnitedHealth Group Inc. patients challenging the insurer’s controversial billing practice of reimbursing doctors through debt cancellation asked the Eighth Circuit to rethink its recent decision tossing their lawsuit on standing grounds.

The patients say their lawsuit rests on claims they didn’t receive what they’re entitled to under contract: United’s payment of their medical benefits to their doctors. This is an injury that’s sufficient to create standing to sue under US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit case law, the patients said in a Monday petition.

The case involves questions of “exceptional importance,” plaintiffs Rebecca Smith and Cristine Ghanim ...