Fierce Healthcare’s Post

A call to action for all healthcare leaders: "Ultimately, the goal should be a healthcare system that truly puts patients first – one that is affordable, accessible, and of high quality. The current state of affairs, where a CEO’s tragic death becomes a lightning rod for expressions of frustration and dark humor, is unsustainable and reflects poorly on our society. It’s crucial to channel this public discontent into constructive dialogue and meaningful action. The health of our nation — both physically and economically — depends on our ability to reform a system that has, for too long, failed to meet the needs of those it’s meant to serve. Until we fundamentally reform our broken healthcare system, we risk more than just bankruptcies and denied claims. We risk the complete collapse of public trust in the institutions meant to keep us alive. The tragic event in Manhattan should not be in vain. Instead, let it be the catalyst for the change that is so desperately needed in American healthcare.” Grateful for your thoughtful message Neal K. Shah. 🤍 #HealthCareLeadership #LeadingWithValues #Change

The need for more security?! What there is a need for is more #humanity #compassion and #empathy ❤️ While I understand where Michael Sherman’s comment on, “the need for more security” quoted in The Straits Times article below is coming from, I respectfully disagree with the former Humana executive and Point32Health Chief Medical Officer, strongly believing that more humanity, compassion and empathy together with #transparency are the key success factors to focus on in order to rebuild #trust, not only in Payors but all stakeholders across #health systems for every single one of us holds some blame and has a role to play. And, yes that includes doctors and patients, too. It will be imperative for all of us to #worktogether if there is any chance at all for things to improve. Truly a sad, sad day in #healthcare for mankind with the absolutely uncondonable act of the slaying of UnitedHealth Group’s UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, Brian Thompson reflecting how those of us who believe in the Red Cross 🏥have potentially become a Red Target 🎯 Sending positive thoughts and prayers to the victim’s family and hope that this incident causes all of us to reflect just how important it is to come together to ensure that no one suffers, least our patients. https://lnkd.in/g28Y8-79

Look, as I've said many times, violence is never the answer and while I completely understand why executives at other health plans are beefing up security, it rings hollow and a bit out of tune if we don't also put at the forefront of our minds the reason why people are so angry with these CEOs. Two things have jumped into my head consistently as I've followed this story. 1. While I understand taking down the pictures and other information of health plan executives from their websites, why? Are they going to scrub the entire Internet? It's not like people can't find their names if they want to. You're thinking logically; gunning down someone because you are disgruntled isn't rational. 2. BT was important to many people - those in the industry, friends, colleagues, his family - and his death is beyond tragic. Two things can be true, though: we can mourn his passing and consider why this world is so electrically charged that gun violence is a reaction to it, and we can also consider the deaths of all of the people who have been negatively impacted or even died as a result of claims denials. This isn't just a UnitedHealthcare problem. It's an industry problem.

On behalf of out-of-network healthcare providers nationwide, Lockridge Grindal Nauen has filed a lawsuit alleging that beginning in or around July 2017 Here a little part of the PATHETIC threat letter received from MultiPlan senior counsel Marjorie Wilde. "this is not the first time you have engaged in similar conduct while interacting with MultiPlan personnel. Incidents in 2018 and 2020 featured a similar pattern of ad hominem attacks, profanity, and spamming of MultiPlan’s customers and executives. Though perhaps unknown to you, following those incidents several of the involved providers contacted MultiPlan to express their concern about your behavior and to state that your conduct was not representative of their business practices." QUESTION: Where are those supposed "involved providers" now??? Ms. Wilde, MultiPlan (Data iSight, Viant, HST, PHCS, Conduent, (DHP) Discovery Health Partners) is a multi-million / billion dollar corporation with a stable of henchmen to do their dirty work so who is really harassing whom??? Inquiring minds want to know.... https://lnkd.in/gfgfeR7v

I wrote an article on Sunday explaining a bit of the "why" behind the surprising public response to the UnitedHealthcare CEO's assassination. I also dive into potential solutions — specifically, how we can shift from a system that prioritizes capital accumulation to one that values true societal contribution. I'd love to hear what others think about this problem (either here or in the article comments) — are there other ways to resolve tensions between insurance companies and their consumers? Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the potential for real, constructive change? Here's the article: https://lnkd.in/efRGNAqt

Am I a doom scroller?! I hope not. Confession: I love, love, and love sci-fi and fantasy films, tv series, and novels which are hosts to dystopian future(s)/environments/settings. With that said/typed, I am not one who desires to see a dystopian future manifest in the real world. Moving right along... What of the recent death of a CEO of an insurance company? **Warning: exceptionally opinionated thoughts ahead*** Here are my little thoughts: If the recent killing of Brian Thompson was due to responding to what is a corrupt and parasitical business model, a business model which places our most vulnerable in harm's way, then I am of the mind to think that healthcare insurance CEOs and its shareholders may react to the murder by using a greater portion of the spoils from their exploiting of our vulnerable to hire a fair-sized and capable security detail. Nothing really changes. The CEOs and shareholders' lives, as well as their wealth, influence, opportunities, and all, literally stay the same. That this one corrupt and harmful CEO's death will not have benefitted the victims of parasitical insurance agencies/organizations. To make lasting beneficial changes, I believe that we may need to involve skilled and influential individuals who can help prevent parasitical insurance companies from endangering the vulnerable. Mind you, I am uncertain as to how to go about doing that. If someone chooses to kill another or a greater number of corrupt CEOs, it may not result in the beneficial changes wished for by the victims of the CEOs and the insurance companies that the CEOs manage. Find, enable, and support people who possess the skills and experience, so that they can dismantle the foundation of greed which gives power and wealth to these parasitical organizations and to its executive staff and shareholders without engaging in murder. Killing off a CEO or two may lead to encouraging a greater divide between the haves and have-nots. But, I do not know. There have been psychologists who have identified the trait of psychopathy within those occupying the topmost careers. Why are we rewarding, enabling, and protecting psychopaths? My little mind wishes to know... 🧠 🔍 If you made it this far in my busy-minded rant, I do apologize for having tortured your brains! I hope that within our lifetime, we can see positive changes where there is a true lessening of the suffering of those who are suffering. Mind you, I may just be cursed to be a wishful dreamer.🌸

The murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has prompted significant changes in how national companies manage public engagements and online information: 1. Public and Shareholder Meetings. These will be reassessed for risks for top executives and increased protective strategies at public meetings. A natural response will be to make shareholder meetings virtual. Besides decreasing risk for executive, in some ways an online shareholder meeting will actually encourage more shareholder participation. 2. Public Website Modifications. There will be a complete reversal of the former trend to "personalize" corporate leadership with shareholders and stakeholders. There will be less information about -- and less photos of -- leadership (and their families). Already in response to the murder, several companies have removed executive bios and photos from their websites to protect leaders' identities. For example, UnitedHealthcare took down its leadership page, and Cigna Group and CVS Health removed executive photos while retaining bios.

When lobbyists on Capital Hill ensure that you are allowed to make silly profits the size that UnitedHealth Group makes each year from the medical insurance we all pay, its no wonder that costs resulting from the biggest ever healthcare ransomware attack and breach can be brushed off so easily. UHG booked $475 million in total costs related to the February cybersecurity breach at its Change Healthcare unit during the third quarter and its executives expect to incur another roughly $420 million in costs late this year. As part of the Minnesota-headquartered insurance and health services giant’s Q3 report, CEO Andrew Witty and his team also adjusted their full-year estimates for the direct response and business disruption costs of the Change hack. They now think those expenses—which cover spending on both direct remediation and support payments to providers as well as broader disruption costs that are mostly lost revenue—will total $2.87 billion in 2024, up significantly from the range of $2.3 billion to $2.45 billion they sketched in July. https://lnkd.in/gBk3zBF3

A Targeted Attack: Reflecting on the Assassination of a Health Executive in NYC On December 4th, Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was tragically assassinated in Manhattan just before dawn. As he approached the Hilton for the company's annual Investors Day, a masked gunman shot him multiple times, and he was pronounced dead shortly after at a nearby hospital. His wife, Paulette, revealed that Mr. Thompson had received threats, possibly tied to the widespread issue of health insurance coverage in the U.S., where approximately 26 million Americans lack insurance and many others struggle with medical debt. New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch labeled the incident a "brazen, targeted attack," raising concerns about the threats faced by healthcare executives and workers, who reportedly receive more threats than those in nearly any other industry. The motive behind the assassination remains speculative, but experts like Rafael Mangual of the Manhattan Institute emphasize that such violence can occur anywhere, even in a city known for its low murder rate. Mr. Thompson, a graduate of the University of Iowa and a 20-year veteran of UnitedHealthcare, was respected for his leadership, having previously run the firm’s government and Medicare programs before becoming CEO in 2021. UnitedHealth Group expressed deep sorrow over the loss, highlighting Mr. Thompson's reputation as an incredible leader and colleague. This tragic event underscores the critical discussions surrounding the healthcare system in America and the vulnerabilities faced by those in leadership positions. Source: Economist #Healthcare #Leadership #UnitedHealthcare #Insurance #HealthEquity #HealthcareWorkers #ViolencePrevention #MedicalDebt #BrianThompson

"These major events, compounded by legal battles and heightened public scrutiny, have exposed systemwide vulnerabilities and sparked a broader reckoning about the role of insurers within healthcare." https://lnkd.in/gTKSUe69 The last time I recall one insurer being the focal point as a representative of the insurance industry challenges in an annual summary was 2009, and it was the same insurer. https://lnkd.in/grJKjKsv