In a strong indication of general interest in the case, various media have already started reporting on the Callahan & Blaine opioid class action lawsuit against United Healthcare on behalf of Ryan S. that was filed yesterday.
Social media and traditional media have already shown a strong interest in the case and some excellent reports have already been filed on it. Law360’s recent article on the case summarizes it nicely and can be read in full here.
The class action suit was filed Thursday on behalf of Ryan S. who has experienced the demoralizing effect of insurance company exclusions and limitations on coverage. That is why on behalf of all persons who have suffered with substance use and mental health disorders and were denied treatment, Ryan is suing UnitedHealthcare for engaging in what he alleges to be an unlawful, institution-wide, pattern and practice of delaying, denying and underpaying claims for substance use disorder and mental health treatment despite the UnitedHealthcare plans specifically providing for benefits. The class action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, entitled Ryan S. v. UnitedHealth Group, Inc., et al., Case No. 8:19-cv-01363, was filed on July 11, 2019, by Ryan’s attorneys, Callahan & Blaine of Santa Ana, California.
The lawsuit describes seven company practices by UnitedHealthcare that Ryan’s lawyers allege were designed to deprive patients access to essential health care benefits in violation of a number of federal laws, including the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (“PPACA”), 42 U.S.C. §§ 18001, et seq.; the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA), 42 U.S.C. § 300gg-26; and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), 29 U.S.C. §§ 1001 et seq. The plaintiffs are asking the court to order UnitedHealthcare to change its practices going forward in conformity with federal law, and to remedy the effects of its past wrongful conduct.
You can read the United Healthcare opiod lawsuit here.
For more information, contact: Laurali Kobal, Firm Administrator, 714-241-4444, Laurali@callahan-law.com