, which is in the business of helping elderly people navigate the Medicare insurance marketplace, says in its lawsuit it has been accused of “steering” patients by WellMed.
WellMed provides care for nearly 2 million older adults — half of whom are Medicare patients. It has more than 20,000 doctors’ offices in Texas and Florida. It was started in 1990 by Dr. George Rapier III, a gerontologist who believed in keeping his patients healthy instead of responding to symptoms after they became ill.In 2011, WellMed sold its health maintenance organization operations to Optum Health, part of health services conglomerate UnitedHealth Group Inc. of Minnesota.
“This allegation was not only untrue, but incredibly harmful to Sanchez’s reputation,” the suit says. Ricardo Cedillo, a San Antonio lawyer who represents the plaintiffs, said they do not have a clear picture on motive.