Leader of UnitedHealthcare's parent company UnitedHealth Group pays tribute to slain CEO Brian Thompson and admitted in an op-ed that the health care system “does not work as well as it should.” Published in The New York Times On Friday.
This has been followed by an “overwhelming outpouring of support” for Thompson and his loved ones. UHC leader shot dead In New York City, Andrew Witty, CEO of UnitedHealth Group, wrote, but he said the company's employees also have faced online threats and vitriol.
“No worker — whether they're people answering customer calls or nurses visiting patients in their homes — should have to fear for their own safety or the safety of their loved ones,” Witty wrote.
Vitti said he understands people's frustrations with the health care system. Americans Pay more than ever For health insurance, while insurers are rejecting more than 1 in 5 claims. Most adults in the US say they are worried about their ability to pay for health care services or unexpected medical bills, According to 2024 KFF surveyThe New York Police Department said there is no indication Mangione was a customer of the company, but authorities believe UHC may have been targeted Because of its position as the largest health insurer in the US
Since Thompson's murder, some people have used social media Tell us about your experiences Health insurance companies and others have even celebrated Thompson's accused killer, luigi mangioneThe shooting made new headlines security of officers And other high ranking employees.
Witty wrote, “We know the health system doesn't 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 else did. It's a patchwork built over decades.”
Witty said that while UHC is willing to “partner with anyone” who can help make the system work better, “frankly, we're not there yet.”
“We understand and share the desire to create a health care system that works better for everyone. That is the purpose of our organization,” they wrote.
Vitti said Thompson is among those working in the health care industry who “strive to do their best for the people they serve.” The UHC CEO was raised in the same farmhouse as his mother and worked in the fields as a child, Vitti wrote. Vitti said his rural upbringing inspired his ethos as CEO.
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“He never forgot where he came from,” Vitti wrote, “because the needs of people living in places like Jewell, Iowa were among the first he considered in finding ways to improve care.” “When a colleague presented Brian with a new idea, he would always ask, 'Would you like this for your family?' If not, discussion is over.”
Vitti said Thompson was “never satisfied with the status quo” and praised the CEO for advocating ideas that were “aimed at making health care more affordable, more transparent, more intuitive, more compassionate – and more humane ”
“It is Brian's legacy that we will carry forward by continuing his work to make the health system better for all,” Vitti wrote.