The leader of the UnitedHealth Group, whose December killing sparked an explosion of public discontent with the U.S. health care system, was pushing for some of the very improvements critics are calling for.
Andrew Whitty, CEO of the Eden Prairie-based health care giant, made the comments Thursday during a conference call with investors, citing the deadly ambush of Brian Thompson, 50, of Maple Grove. He made his opening comments in recognition of the condolences expressed by many people since the incident.
Mr. Thompson, chief executive officer of UnitedHealthcare’s medical insurance division, was gunned down on December 4 as he walked along a public sidewalk in New York City on his way to an internal meeting with stock analysts.
Whitty said that even though Thompson plays a role in UnitedHealth Group’s vision for how to reduce costs and improve quality, there are challenges to claims processing that can frustrate patients and providers. It said it is working to improve its pre-approval rules, which are part of a broader system. He added that efforts to improve prior approval continue.
Whitty said the country’s health system remains a global destination for patients, in part because it provides some of the most advanced clinical care in the world and is tailored to individual needs. It is said that it continues. At the same time, medical claims processing requires industry-wide fixes and the consumer experience is plagued with too much confusion and complexity, he said.
“America, like the rest of the world, faces a fundamental health care dynamic: The resources available to pay for health care are limited, while the demand for health care is unlimited.” he said.
The comments came as UnitedHealth Group released financial results showing the company posted a profit of $5.54 billion in the final three months of 2024, beating expectations for fourth-quarter profit. It was done.
Despite the earnings, the company’s stock fell 6% on Thursday after UnitedHealthcare reported an alarmingly high ratio of medical expenses to premium income.
