A series of investigative reports have unveiled the workings of MultiPlan, a data analytics firm, and its significant impact on healthcare billing and insurance costs. MultiPlan, which pitches itself to employers as a cost-control measure, has been associated with unpredictable fees, as evidenced by New England Motor Freight being charged $50,650 by UnitedHealthcare for processing a single hospital bill. The firm claimed to have identified nearly $23 billion in bills from various insurers that it recommended not be paid last year. UnitedHealthcare, the nation's largest insurer by revenue, reportedly earns about $1 billion annually from fees related to out-of-network savings programs, including its collaboration with MultiPlan. Documents made public by a federal judge revealed that insurers could influence MultiPlan's payment recommendations, often resulting in lower payments to doctors and higher fees for insurers. This practice has contributed to driving down payments to medical providers, increasing patients' bills, and generating billions in profits for insurers, with private equity-backed firms playing a significant role in this ecosystem.