UnitedHealth Unit, DOL $20 Million Claim Denial Deal Gets Nod

A UnitedHealth Group Inc. subsidiary won court approval of a $20.25 million settlement with the US Labor Department over allegations it improperly denied payments for medical services.

UMR Inc. pledged not to use the protocols that allegedly led it to deny emergency room visit claims without considering a patient’s experience, and to deny urine drug screening claims without regard for their medical necessity, as part of the agreement filed in the US District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.

• UMR is required to give notice to the Labor Department if it believes a change in the law allows ...