UnitedHealth Beats Substance Abuse Suit After 9th Cir. Revival

UnitedHealth Group Inc. convinced a California federal judge to dismiss a patient’s challenge to its coverage of substance abuse and mental health treatments, four months after the Ninth Circuit said portions of his proposed class action could proceed.

The plaintiff, a patient referred to as Ryan S., makes allegations that are “entirely conclusory and insufficiently detailed,” Judge James V. Selna of the US District Court for the Central District of California said Thursday.

Selna dismissed Ryan S.'s claims under both the Employee Retirement Income Security Act and the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, which requires health insurers ...