November 19, 2019

Contact: 

Katie Robbins, Campaign for New York Health, [email protected], 917-657-4663

MEDIA ADVISORY

Activists Announce Picket Against NY Health Plan Association to Protest

 Deadly Denials and Racially Biased Limitations on Care 

(Albany, NY)  A coalition of patients, healthcare professionals, unions and activist groups will picket the annual conference of the New York Health Plan Association (NYHPA) to protest the industry’s widely-practiced methods that lead to devastating consequences for patients.

Advocates were shocked when the NYHPA canceled the paid registration for Stillwater resident Scott Desnoyers to attend the meeting. Scott recently wrote an OpEd about his son’s tragic death.  After missing a premium payment of $20, FidelisCare canceled his plan, which prevented him from being able to afford life-saving anti-depression medication, after which he committed suicide. (FidelisCare had $60 billion in revenue in 2018.) Advocates will be demanding transparency and that NYHPA stop shutting out patients.

Earlier this month, the New York State Departments of Health and Financial Services launched an investigation into UnitedHealth Group for the use of an algorithm that limits care to sicker Black patients, while biasing reimbursements toward healthier white patients. This algorithm is widely used in the industry according to UnitedHealth Group’s own promotional materials. Inside the conference, CEO of UnitedHealth Group, Michael McGuire, will be moderating a panel at the conference on “Understanding Cost Drivers.”

What: Picket outside the annual conference of the New York Health Plan Association (NYHPA)

Who: Patient advocates; nurses and healthcare providers; labor representatives; small business; and other health care experts and advocates

Where: 55 Eagle St. (corner of Eagle and Howard), Albany, NY

When: Thursday, November 21, 12:00PM-1:00PM 

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See last year’s disruption and picket.