(NewsNation) — A primary care physician in the wake of a UnitedHealthcare CEO’s killing has highlighted growing frustrations within the medical community over insurance company practices, particularly aggressive claim denials.
Dr. Saju Mathew, a 20-year veteran physician, told NewsNation Monday that insurance companies are increasingly blocking critical medical procedures through complex “prior authorization” processes.
“We as doctors have been crying, screaming on the top of our lungs regarding how lots of insurance companies are denying claims on a daily basis,” Mathew said on “NewsNation Now.” He cited examples of patients being unable to obtain routine tests like mammograms without extensive bureaucratic hurdles.
The doctor’s comments come after the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan, which has sparked a national conversation about health care industry practices.
On social media in particular, some users gloated about the killing, a reaction they framed as rooted in their enmity for the health insurance industry. That, in turn, brought rebukes from others who condemned those responses as inhumane, especially in the circumstances.
Luigi Mangione, 26, was arrested as a person of interest and was reportedly found with a three-page manifesto expressing anger toward corporate America.
Shell casings at the scene had words written on them with markers said to have included “Depose,” “Deny,” and “Defend.”
Mathew said that UnitedHealthcare denies one in three claims, a trend he says is symptomatic of a broader industry problem. The company reported $281 billion in revenue last year.
“But it’s just not UnitedHealthcare. It’s really all insurance companies,” he said.
Mathew argued that meaningful change would require congressional action, suggesting legislators should mandate transparency about insurance denial rates and restore medical decision-making power to physicians and patients.
“No. 1, we should be able to make sure that people understand which insurance companies have the highest denial rate,” Mathew said.
The physician called for removing insurance companies’ ability to arbitrate medical necessities, particularly in critical procedures like knee replacements for patients with severe arthritis.
A recent KFF poll spotlights Mathew’s concerns, revealing that 97% of registered voters believe insurance companies bear significant responsibility for high health care prices.
A February report from KFF found that Americans owe “at least $220 billion” in medical debt and that about 3 million people have debts of over $10,000.
NewsNation partner The Hill contributed to this report.
