UnitedHealth to Fine Physicians if Patients Use Out-of-Network Labs on Physician Referral

March 5, 2007 UnitedHealth to Fine Physicians if Patients Use Out-of-Network Labs on Physician Referral On March 1, 2007, UnitedHealth started a policy of fining physicians $50 each time their patients have lab work done at out-of-network labs based on the physician’s referral. Physicians may also be reimbursed at lower rates and possibly excluded from the UnitedHealth network. Patients that select out-of-network labs already face reduced coverage rates. A UnitedHealth spokesperson said that the policy is intended to remind physicians to refer patients to one of the 1,500 in-network lab work . . .