[jonnyss]

I think the biggest allegation is the insurance fraud.

The company grew to include “clinical” tests of gut and vaginal microbiomes, which were aimed to be used by medical providers so uBiome could seek up to $3,000 in reimbursements from health insurance companies. The federal indictment states that uBiome sought upwards of $300 million in reimbursement claims from private and public health insurers between 2015 and 2019. The company was ultimately paid more than $35 million for tests that “were not validated and not medically necessary."

It's one thing if people like Marty's friend buy a kit for kicks and giggles and are careful to say that it is not meant to diagnose or treat disease, but once you get doctors to use it and bill insurance companies for it, you better make sure it is well-validated and clinically needed.

BC

not that simple.  they apparently obtained fda approval - a multi-stage process requiring lots of evidence. they are being charged with billing insurance companies 9 times without the patient's consent. so these patients gave their insurance company name and insurance id but didn't sign the line that said please bill my insurance company? pretty ticky tacky.

and they are being charged with urging doctors to order the tests. that's criminal?

in the background is that this is a crowd-funded venture intended (like 23andme) to give patients options to choose tests without depending on doctors. this is politically controversial, but imo certainly not evil.

[jonnyss]

I think the biggest allegation is the insurance fraud.

The company grew to include “clinical” tests of gut and vaginal microbiomes, which were aimed to be used by medical providers so uBiome could seek up to $3,000 in reimbursements from health insurance companies. The federal indictment states that uBiome sought upwards of $300 million in reimbursement claims from private and public health insurers between 2015 and 2019. The company was ultimately paid more than $35 million for tests that “were not validated and not medically necessary."

It's one thing if people like Marty's friend buy a kit for kicks and giggles and are careful to say that it is not meant to diagnose or treat disease, but once you get doctors to use it and bill insurance companies for it, you better make sure it is well-validated and clinically needed.

BC

not that simple.  they apparently obtained fda approval - a multi-stage process requiring lots of evidence. they are being charged with billing insurance companies 9 times without the patient's consent. so these patients gave their insurance company name and insurance id but didn't sign the line that said please bill my insurance company? pretty ticky tacky.

and they are being charged with urging doctors to order the tests. that's criminal?

in the background is that this is a crowd-funded venture intended (like 23andme) to give patients options to choose tests without depending on doctors. this is politically controversial, but imo certainly not evil.