In a statement, MultiPlan said it is working with Senate committees “to answer their questions and explain the costs and complexity patients may face” when choosing expensive care outside their networks. “We are committed to helping make healthcare transparent, fair and affordable for all,” the statement read.
The commission’s investigation reflects growing scrutiny of the New York-based company, which has remained largely out of the spotlight even as it has gained a dominant position in a lucrative healthcare sector.
Another senator, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, this month asked federal antitrust authorities to investigate whether insurers and MultiPlan were conspiring to fix prices, and several health systems have sued the company, accusing it of such anticompetitive behavior.
Separately, the Labor Department said Tuesday that it has “a number of open investigations” into the type of pricing services provided by MultiPlan, but declined to name specific companies. The agency, the main regulator of employer-based health insurance, stressed in a statement that companies are legally obligated to ensure that companies processing medical claims act in the best interests of their employees.
The letter from Wyden, a Democrat, and Sanders, an independent, also draws attention to employer-based health insurance, which is the most common way Americans get coverage and a major component of MultiPlan operations.
