UnitedHealthcare has filed a defamation lawsuit against The Guardian, accusing the newspaper of publishing false and damaging claims about its Institutional Special Needs Program (ISNP), which serves elderly nursing home residents.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, UnitedHealthcare said the article misrepresented its program and undermined trust between patients and clinicians. “The Guardian knowingly published false and misleading claims… and chose instead to print its predetermined narrative,” the company stated.
The May 21 article alleged that UnitedHealthcare offered secret financial incentives to nursing homes to join ISNP, placed staff who reported directly to the company to reduce hospitalizations, and improperly accessed patient data to market its services. It also claimed the company pressured patients to sign DNR orders, sometimes against their wishes.
UnitedHealthcare said the article relied on anecdotes and omitted key context. The company pointed to a “heavily cropped screenshot” of an internal email, which it claims contradicts the story when viewed in full. The lawsuit also criticizes The Guardian for linking the story to the death of former CEO Brian Thompson.
In response, The Guardian said it stands by its reporting, which it described as based on thousands of documents, court records, and interviews with current and former UnitedHealthcare employees. The newspaper also noted that UnitedHealthcare never requested changes to the image in question and that the full context was provided in the article.
The case highlights growing tensions over corporate transparency and the role of journalism in reporting on healthcare practices.
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