Andrew Witty, Chief Executive Officer of UnitedHealth Group, at the Dirksen Building on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at a conference titled “Hacking American Healthcare: Assessing Changes in Healthcare Cyberattacks and Next Steps” Testimony at Senate Finance Committee hearing.
Tom Williams | Cq-roll Call Inc. | Getty Images
UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty Friday mourn death Brian Thompsonleads the company’s insurance division and recognizes American health care system is “flawed” and needs reform.
“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 marks Whitty’s first public comments since last week fatal shooting Thompson is the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, the largest private insurance company in the United States. to nearly $475 billion.
Luigi Mangione26 years old, charged fatal shot Thompson was outside the Hilton Hotel in downtown Manhattan as the executive headed to UnitedHealth Group’s investor day. Investigators said Mangione was a widely held critic of the health care industry. some americans.
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 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 needs to work with employers, governments and other payers 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.
