MW UnitedHealth stock has plunged since Brian Thompson's murder. The CEO now is calling for healthcare reform.
By Steve Goldstein
UnitedHealth's chief executive on Friday called for the healthcare system to be overhauled, following the emotional and angry reaction many had to the murder of one of the company's senior executives.
In a New York Times op-ed mourning the death of Brian Thompson, CEO Andrew Witty says his company was not deserving of the vitriol it's received.
"We know the health system does not work as well as it should, and we understand people's frustrations with it. No one would design a system like the one we have. And no one did," says Witty. "It's a patchwork built over decades. Our mission is to help make it work better. 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."
Related: UnitedHealthcare head Brian Thompson's killing shines light on health-insurance denial rates
Witty portrayed Thompson as a caring executive. "When a colleague proposed a new idea to Brian, he would always ask, 'Would you want this for your own family?' If not, end of discussion," he wrote. Thompson pushed the company to build dedicated teams to help the sickest people navigate the health system and fought for preventative health and quality outcomes, Witty said.
UnitedHealth $(UNH)$ stock has spiraled lower since Thompson's death, losing 13% this month and helping drag the Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA to six straight days of losses.
-Steve Goldstein
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December 13, 2024 06:00 ET (11:00 GMT)
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