Andrew Witty, CEO of UnitedHealth Group, at a conference titled “Hacking American Healthcare: Assessing Changes in Healthcare Cyberattacks and Next Steps” at the Dirksen Building in Washington, D.C., on May 1, 2024 testimony before the Senate Finance Committee hearing.
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UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty Friday mourn Brian Thompson, the head of the company’s insurance arm who acknowledged that the U.S. health care system was “flawed” and needed reform, has died.
“We know the health system is not functioning as well as it should, and we understand people’s dissatisfaction,” Whitty wrote in the New York Times. Opinion draft. “No one would design a system like ours. No one does. This is a system that was cobbled together over decades.”
UnitedHealth Group’s “mission is to help it run better,” he said.
“We are willing, as always, to work with anyone — health care providers, employers, patients, pharmaceutical companies, governments and others — to find ways to deliver high-quality care and reduce costs,” added Witty.
The New York Times article marked Witty’s first public comments since last week’s shooting death of Thompson, the chief executive of UnitedHealth Group, the largest private insurance company in the United States. Since Thompson’s death on December 4, its market value of nearly $475 billion has been reduced.
Luigi Mangione, 26, is accused of fatally shooting Thompson outside the Hilton Hotel in downtown Manhattan as the CEO headed to UnitedHealth Group’s investor day. Investigators said Mangione was a widely held critic of the health care industry. American.
The murder triggered a wave of pent-up resentment and anger against the insurance industry, which has become a popular villain blamed for rising health care costs and difficulties in accessing care. From claim denials, premium increases and surprise bills, to an overall lack of transparency, patients are flooding social media with stories about their negative experiences with insurance.
Still, the killings come after a challenging year for insurers, which are under pressure to shore up profits. This year in particular, the company has faced higher medical costs as seniors opt for surgeries that were postponed during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Witty recognizes UnitedHealth Group’s role in addressing U.S. health care challenges
“Health care is both very personal and very complex, and the reasons behind coverage decisions are unclear,” Witty said. “We bear some responsibility for this,” he noted.
He did not offer specific steps that could be taken to reform the industry. But Witty said the company, along with employers, governments and other payers, needs to improve the way insurers explain coverage and how those decisions are made.
He also noted that behind certain claims decisions “there exists comprehensive and constantly updated clinical evidence, with a focus on achieving optimal health outcomes and ensuring patient safety.”
Whitty said Thompson has done his best to help patients navigate the health care system.
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