Casey Ross

@caseyross.bsky.social

STAT News journalist investigating the injustices and unfairness of our health care system, with a particular focus on data use and artificial intelligence. Signal me @STAT investigations, or send tips to casey.ross@statnews.com

Internal Humana research revealed its primary care practices were not doing v well compared to similar clinics. 6 wks later, execs told investors the opposite. Our latest investigation into research distortions in Medicare Advantage: www.statnews.com/2025/12/16/i...

Data on Humana’s clinics looked dismal. Then its corporate research machine got to work

STAT investigation: Internal documents show how Humana is reshaping the debate over Medicare Advantage.

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As HHS secretary, RFK Jr. has pledged to pursue gold-standard science, preserve access to vaccines, and insist on radical transparency in policymaking. Here is our examination of his tenure to date: www.statnews.com/2025/11/18/r... via @statnews.com

How RFK Jr., America's celebrity health secretary, is steamrolling science

RFK Jr. is plowing ahead with sweeping changes to U.S. health care that have thrilled supporters, purged opponents, and horrified critics.

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At the #STATSummit, former NIH National Human Genome Research Institute director Eric Green talks to STAT’s @aniloza.bsky.social about the cuts at the NIH. “There’s no reason to think we’ve bottomed out,” he said. “We can’t rebuild until we know what we even have left.”

MAGA influencers are attacking Republicans with tweets supporting Medicare Advantage — and some of the language is almost verbatim from a dark money group called the Medicare Advantage Majority. Lawmakers are pissed. @caseyross.bsky.social and John Wilkerson dig in: www.statnews.com/2025/08/01/m...

MAGA influencers take a sudden interest in Medicare Advantage reforms, echoing a dark money group

It's not clear why right wing influencers are suddenly pushing back against Medicare reforms.

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This internal UnitedHealth document landed in my inbox -- mistakenly -- and we decided to write about it. It details a pretty extraordinary chain of events... both with regard to the United's many challenges, and its handling of the doc itself. www.statnews.com/2025/06/04/u... via @statnews.com

Internal document shows how UnitedHealth executives prepared to tamp down investor unrest

An internal document reveals how UnitedHealth Group's leadership prepared to downplay complaints about its business practices at a shareholder meeting

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Scoop from @bobjherman.bsky.social: UnitedHealth, facing multiple investigations related to its collection of Medicare risk-adjustment money, is working on a new risk scoring system using AI. And it's already generated interest from Trump admin. www.statnews.com/2025/05/16/u... via @statnews.com

UnitedHealth’s Optum working on Medicare risk scoring system that would use AI

UnitedHealth’s Optum working on Medicare risk scoring system that would use artificial intelligence.

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Huge thanks to @ewscrippsco.bsky.social for naming @statnews.com's health care's colossus series as a finalist for its award for excellence in national and international investigative reporting. It's really a thrill to be in the company of such amazing journalists! scripps.com/fund/journal...

Scripps Howard Awards | Fund | Scripps

The Scripps Howard Fund's Scripps Howard Awards honor the best of American journalism. Learn more about the Scripps Howard Awards.

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He's a faith-driven, 44-year-old health tech entrepreneur from Idaho who just got put in charge of Medicare. Read about his ambitions to reform the ~$1 trillion program in this deeply-reported profile by @mariojoze.bsky.social, via @statnews.com: www.statnews.com/2025/04/28/m... via @statnews.com

This health tech exec is in charge of Medicare, and he has big ambitions

A close look at Chris Klomp's path to the top of Medicare, which pays for the health care of 68 million Americans.

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Our analysis of memos Trump and Biden sent to executive agencies on the use of AI. Both urge civil rights protections, but Trump deletes the words "Bias" and "Diverse" -- two terms Biden used frequently in his instructions. via @statnews.com: www.statnews.com/2025/04/18/a... via @statnews.com

In directives to federal agencies, Trump charts a different course for AI

A closer look at how Trump's initial strategy for the use of artificial intelligence differs from Biden's approach.

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“You need to have IGs that have that independence, where they can’t be interfered with. And as Congress developed these laws, they’re precisely for that reason. You’re not meant to get rid of IGs...because their work is unpopular." www.statnews.com/2025/04/11/f... via @statnews.com

Trump fired the top HHS watchdog. She says the future of health care oversight is grim if partisanship wins out

Before Trump fired her, Christi Grimm's office had recovered $30 billion for taxpayers.

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“Medicare Advantage insurers pulled in an estimated $33 billion in additional payment from the government in 2021 as a result of these extra diagnoses, or codes, that made their members seem sicker…Almost $14 billion of that, or 42%, went to a single company: UnitedHealth…” shorturl.at/LH3s6

Study shows how UnitedHealth uses coding to rake in extra cash from Medicare Advantage

Health insurers in the Medicare Advantage business have a big incentive to diagnose their members with lots of health conditions.

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Breaking: A new report by US Rep. Pat Ryan details hundreds of consumer complaints about UnitedHealth practices in Hudson Valley. Ryan wrote: "For anyone not convinced urgent change is needed, read every damn story below." via @statnews.com: www.statnews.com/2025/04/03/u... via @statnews.com

Inquiry by New York congressman reveals frustration over UnitedHealth practices in Hudson Valley

A report by a New York congressman details consumer and employee grievances with UnitedHealth Group’s management of two medical groups

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