340B Fight Turns Into Pot Calling Kettle Anticompetitive, UHC Soothes Investors With Star Ratings, And Then Boots A Rheumatology Clinic For Sport

Hey all,

Happy hump day! Wall Street is busy applauding UnitedHealth for raking in fresh Medicare bonus money, but somehow those “improving fortunes” always seem to come at the expense of patients. Case in point: the insurer just dropped a rheumatology clinic from its network—because who needs arthritis care when shareholders are smiling? And I’m sure UnitedHealth is deeply concerned about patients losing their doctors and waiting 18 months just to see a new rheumatologist.

Enjoy the rundown!

Jacob Brody (Co-Founder & CEO, ZorroRX)

(Healthcare Dive) AHA Accuses Drugmakers of 340B Collusion

The American Hospital Association (AHA) is urging the FTC and DOJ to investigate Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly, Sanofi, Novartis, and Bristol Myers Squibb for allegedly coordinating a shift from upfront 340B drug discounts to rebate-based models. The dispute underscores escalating tensions between hospitals and pharmaceutical companies over the $66 billion 340B program, with hospitals claiming rebate models undermine safety-net providers while drugmakers argue they prevent fraud and abuse. Funny enough, the AHA is demanding an antitrust crackdown while hospitals themselves keep rolling up competitors and snuffing out market competition — oh, healthcare lobbies. Full Article

(Bloomberg) UnitedHealth Jumps on Early Medicare Bonus Outlook

UnitedHealth Group expects about 78% of its Medicare Advantage members to be in plans rated at least four stars next year, securing lucrative government bonus payments. This performance reassures investors after a rocky year of profit pressures from higher medical costs and stricter payment policies, with analysts noting the results are stronger than feared and shares rising over 4% in early trading. Of course, while Wall Street cheers, it’s hard to imagine any of these “improving fortunes” translating into less frustrating experiences for customers like us who actually have to deal with UnitedHealth as plan members. Full Article

(Health Care un-covered) UnitedHealth Purges Rheumatology Clinic

UnitedHealthcare is dropping Triangle Arthritis & Rheumatology Associates from its Medicare Advantage network, leaving over 200 vulnerable patients scrambling to find care despite long wait times and limited alternatives. This move reflects a broader corporate strategy to cut costs by excluding high-expense doctors and patients—particularly in specialties like rheumatology, cardiology, and oncology—amid investor pressure and declining stock value. And of course, given America’s severe rheumatologist shortage—with demand projected to exceed supply by more than 100% by 2030—it makes perfect sense to kick out one of the few remaining clinics actually treating these patients. Full Article