UnitedHealth sues Guardian for defamation after report on nursing home kickbacks

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) has filed a defamation lawsuit against The Guardian over a report the publication ran last month, which accused the managed care giant of secretly paying nursing homes that helped it win Medicare members and cut hospital transfers for sick patients.

The lawsuit filed in Delaware Superior Court late Wednesday alleged that the British daily had deliberately published false information and attempted to capitalize on the tragic murder of Brian Thompson, the former CEO of the company’s insurance unit, in December.

“The Guardian knew these accusations were false but published them anyway, brazenly trying to capitalize on the tragic and shocking assassination of UnitedHealthcare’s then-CEO, Brian Thompson,” the lawsuit said.

Following the lawsuit, The Guardian said it will defend itself in court and stands by its May 21 reporting, which it said was backed by corporate and patient records, interviews with former UNH employees, and other documentary evidence.

“It’s outrageous that in response to factual reporting on the practice of secretly paying nursing homes to reduce hospitalizations for vulnerable patients, UnitedHealth is resorting to wildly misleading claims and intimidation tactics via the courts,” The Washington Post reported, citing a representative for The Guardian.