By Elsa Ohlen
UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty, in his first public remarks since the killing of executive Brian Thompson last week, said the U.S. healthcare system is "flawed" and called for its reform on Friday.
"We know the health system does not work as well as it should, and we understand people's frustrations with it," Witty wrote in a New York Times opinion published Friday.
The system is "a patchwork built over decades," Witty said. "Let's fix it."
"We are willing to partner with anyone, as we always have -- health care providers, employers, patients, pharmaceutical companies, governments and others -- to find ways to deliver high-quality care and lower costs, " he said.
The comments come amid a sharp selloff in shares. UnitedHealth stock is down 16% this month, on track for its worst monthly performance since February 2009 when shares fell 31%. UNH stock was down another 0.2% to $514.34 in early trading Friday.
Rival healthcare insurers such as Cigna, CVS Health and Humana have also dropped since Thompson's death on Dec. 4.
The targeted attack on Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealth insurance unit, on the streets of Manhattan last Wednesday sparked a public debate about the healthcare insurance sector and its handling of claims. Witty wrote of Thompson that he was "brilliant, kind man who was working to make health care better for everyone."
Write to Elsa Ohlen at elsa.ohlen@barrons.com
This content was created by Barron's, which is operated by Dow Jones & Co. Barron's is published independently from Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
December 13, 2024 10:08 ET (15:08 GMT)
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