Linda Peeno

Linda Peeno is an American physician, ethicist, and lecturer known for being a whistleblower against the American managed healthcare industry., she practices medicine in Louisville, Kentucky.

Early life and education

Peeno is a native of Hodgenville, Kentucky. She received a medical degree from the University of Louisville School of Medicine, where she specialized in internal medicine and infectious diseases.

Whistleblowing

Following employment as a medical reviewer for Humana and medical director at Blue Cross/Blue Shield Health Plans, she became a critic of how U.S. HMOs drive profits through denial of care.
On May 30, 1996, Peeno testified before Congress as to the downside of managed care.

Media representation and controversy

In the 2002 Showtime docudrama Damaged Care, Laura Dern portrayed Peeno as she transitioned from health care industry employee to whistleblower. In 2007, Peeno was prominently featured in the Michael Moore movie Sicko, which included portions of her May 1996 appearance before Congress.
On June 28, 2007, in a statement about Sicko, Humana declared that Peeno was never a Humana "associate", but rather a "part-time contractor". Humana also disputed the portions of Congressional testimony that were shown by saying that because the patient's specific healthcare plan didn't cover heart transplants, the denial of coverage was valid.