UnitedHealth Group CEO: 'We know the health system does not work as well as it should'
(FOX 9) - The CEO of UnitedHealth Group, the parent company of UnitedHealthcare, spoke to the health care frustrations many have made public since UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was killed in New York City.
The article was posted after UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty sent an internal message to UnitedHealth Group employees earlier this week when he offered words of support and reminded staff of the service owed to their clients.
READ MORE: UnitedHealth Group CEO: 'Nothing more vital to the human condition than health care'
New York Times Op-Ed
What they're saying: UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty said the United States Health system is flawed and that he understands the public's frustration.
Witty's editorial began by acknowledging the grief felt by Thompson's friends and family and thanking those who gave an "enormous outpouring of support" for him and the company he led.
The UnitedHealth Group CEO then addressed the "vitriol that has been directed at our colleagues who have been barraged by threats" while they continue to cope with Thompson's killing.
Witty then addressed the failures of the nation's health care system:
"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. 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.Clearly, we are not there yet. We understand and share the desire to build a health care system that works better for everyone. That is the purpose of our organization."
He ended the op-ed by praising Thompson's legacy, saying he was a man who wanted to help those who needed it the most.
"Brian was never content with the status quo. That’s why he pushed us to build dedicated teams to help the sickest people navigate the health system.
"It’s why he fought for preventive health and quality health outcomes rather than simply adding ever more tests and procedures.
"He believed decisions about health care should start with the individual and championed plans in which consumers could see costs and coverage options upfront, so they could decide what’s best for themselves and their families."
Killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson
Big picture view: UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed in New York City the morning of Dec. 4 outside a Hilton Hotel before a UnitedHealthcare investor conference. Thompson, 50, lived in Maple Grove, Minnesota, with his wife and two sons.
While investigating the scene of the shooting, police found live rounds and ejected shell casings that had the words "deny", "depose", and "defend" written on them. The words on the ammunition may have been a reference to strategies insurance companies use to try to avoid paying claims, the Associated Press reported.
READ MORE: UnitedHealthcare CEO killing: Police say shell casings at scene match suspect's gun
The suspected shooter, Luigi Mangione, 26, was arrested at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, several days after the shooting. He was initially charged in Pennsylvania with an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false ID to police. Prosecutors in New York added a charge of murder. He's expected to be extradited to New York.
READ MORE: UnitedHealthcare CEO killing: Luigi Mangione charged with murder
Video shows him shouting to reporters as he entered court in Pennsylvania on Tuesday for an extradition hearing. Mangione appears to shout: "This is completely unjust and an insult to the intelligence of the American people. This is a lived experience."
Public reaction
Local Perspective: Public reaction to the arrest of the accused UnitedHealthcare CEO killer has been mixed, with many sympathizing with the suspect.
READ MORE: UnitedHealthcare CEO killer: Mixed response in MN to shooting
Much of the online discourse vents frustration at the United States health care system.
Police from multiple agencies surrounded UnitedHealthcare campus in Minnetonka, with a fence forming a security perimeter along with armored vehicles.
A police spokesperson told FOX 9 on Tuesday that there was no threat or incident that prompted their presence, but an event inside that they were supporting.
The Source: Past FOX 9 reporting and the opinion piece published in the New York Times.