# EXPOSED: The MultiPlan Healthcare Cartel Costing Providers and Patients Billions Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/value-based-care-advisory-vbca-podcast-3987193/exposed-the-multiplan-healthcare-cartel-costing-providers-and-patients-billions Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/value-based-care-advisory-vbca-podcast-3987193/exposed-the-multiplan-healthcare-cartel-costing-providers-and-patients-billions.md Podcast: [Value Based Care Advisory (VBCA) Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/value-based-care-advisory-vbca-podcast-3987193) Published: 2024-12-03T17:35:00+00:00 Episode link: https://vbcapod.com/episode/the-multiplan-healthcare-cartel Audio file: https://podcasts.captivate.fm/media/762bb141-1fd9-4667-b4ae-964a51ef5b9d/riverside-copy-of-hidden-fees-and-unexp-nov-25-2024-alex-yarija.mp3 Processing state: not_requested JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/value-based-care-advisory-vbca-podcast-3987193/episodes/exposed-the-multiplan-healthcare-cartel-costing-providers-and-patients-billions Duration seconds: 615 ## Resource Welcome to this eye-opening episode of the VBCA Podcast, where we tackle one of the most pressing yet underreported issues in healthcare: hidden fees, surprise bills, and the alleged cartel controlling out-of-network reimbursements . In this episode, host Alex Yarijanian breaks down the allegations against MultiPlan , a third-party repricing company accused of working with major insurers like UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, and Aetna to suppress out-of-network payments. We explore: How MultiPlan's practices impact patients, providers, and employers. The AMA’s antitrust lawsuit accusing MultiPlan of operating a cartel. Real stories, like that of Kelsey Toney, a behavioral therapist forced to turn away patients due to unsustainable payment rates. The staggering $19 billion providers lose annually to these practices. If you’ve ever wondered why your healthcare bills are so high or why your provider suddenly stopped taking your insurance, this is the episode for you. Key Topics Discussed: What are in-network vs. out-of-network providers? How does MultiPlan determine reimbursement rates? The human cost of suppressed reimbursements for providers and patients. Legal implications of the AMA and ISMS lawsuit against MultiPlan. The broader impact on value-based care and healthcare transparency. Takeaways: Hidden fees in healthcare create a sense of unpredictability and financial anxiety for patients. MultiPlan's involvement in processing out-of-network claims often leads to underpayment for healthcare providers. Out-of-network providers typically charge fees that reflect their true cost of delivering services. Patients frequently find themselves responsible for covering the difference in reimbursement rates from insurers. Real-life patient stories underscore the profound human impact o… ## Actions - request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/value-based-care-advisory-vbca-podcast-3987193/episodes/exposed-the-multiplan-healthcare-cartel-costing-providers-and-patients-billions/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode. - read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/value-based-care-advisory-vbca-podcast-3987193/exposed-the-multiplan-healthcare-cartel-costing-providers-and-patients-billions.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource. A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed. ## Transcript Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.