‘This is wrong.’ Another NYC employee’s son fights UnitedHealthcare over slashed nursing care
He warns that if these treatments aren't handled by a professional, it could lead to severe injuries or life-threatening pneumonia.
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Another family is raising concerns over changes to their UnitedHealthcare plan following a News 12 report.
Patrick Tansey spent years staying out of the hospital and attributes that to 18 hours of daily nursing care for over a decade — to manage Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a condition that leaves him with no control over voluntary muscle movement.
After seeing a News 12 report on Kevin Kelly, 25, facing nursing cuts under the new New York City health plan, Tansey reached out with a nearly identical story.
Now, UnitedHealthcare has slashed that coverage to just six hours, claiming his 18-hour care is "not medically necessary.”
According to denial letters, UHC stated that Tansey is "stable" and "able to cough up secretions" on his own.
In a statement to News 12, United Healthcare states, "We empathize with anyone dealing with complex medical conditions, and we remain eager to help our members find resolution to any issues they may have. We have attempted to connect with Mr. Tansey to directly address his needs and help him access the benefits that are available under the City’s employee health plan."
Tansey says that this is "grossly inaccurate.” Because of his SMA, he cannot clear his own lungs and requires a skilled nurse to perform complex "cough assist" and nebulizer procedures.
He warns that if these treatments aren't handled by a professional, it could lead to severe injuries or life-threatening pneumonia.
