Obasi Shaw’s Post

#InsuranceIndustry #CEOImpact #UnitedHealthcare #BrianThompson #LuigiMangione #MarketShift Wow, what a shocking week it's been in the insurance world! Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was tragically murdered on the streets of New York. 😢 It’s not just a heartbreaking loss; it raises so many questions about the future of the insurance industry. The NYPD has arrested a young Ivy League grad, Luigi Mangione, who is also facing charges for possessing a forged instrument and a weapon. But let's focus on the bigger picture here. So, what are the potential aftereffects of the murder of the CEO of UnitedHealthcare? Market Confidence: Will this event shake investor confidence in UnitedHealthcare and similar companies? 🧐 Leadership Changes: Are we likely to see a shift in leadership style or corporate strategy at UnitedHealthcare? Regulatory Scrutiny: Could this lead to increased scrutiny or regulation within the insurance industry? Public Perception: How will public trust in i... What Impact Will the UnitedHealthcare CEO's Murder Have on Insurance? Answers:  https://lnkd.in/gSEHqETm Let's Connect! Have you faced similar challenges? Share you...

#InsuranceIndustry #CEOImpact #UnitedHealthcare #BrianThompson #LuigiMangione #MarketShift Wow, what a shocking week it's been in the insurance world! Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was tragically murdered on the streets of New York. 😢 It’s not just a heartbreaking loss; it raises so many questions about the future of the insurance industry. The NYPD has arrested a young Ivy League grad, Luigi Mangione, who is also facing charges for possessing a forged instrument and a weapon. But let's focus on the bigger picture here. So, what are the potential aftereffects of the murder of the CEO of UnitedHealthcare? Market Confidence: Will this event shake investor confidence in UnitedHealthcare and similar companies? 🧐 Leadership Changes: Are we likely to see a shift in leadership style or corporate strategy at UnitedHealthcare? Regulatory Scrutiny: Could this lead to increased scrutiny or regulation within the insurance industry? Public Perception: How will public trust in i... What Impact Will the UnitedHealthcare CEO's Murder Have on Insurance? Answers:  https://lnkd.in/gT69fgKD Let's Connect! Have you faced similar challenges? Share you...

#InsuranceIndustry #CEOImpact #UnitedHealthcare #BrianThompson #LuigiMangione #MarketShift Wow, what a shocking week it's been in the insurance world! Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was tragically murdered on the streets of New York. 😢 It’s not just a heartbreaking loss; it raises so many questions about the future of the insurance industry. The NYPD has arrested a young Ivy League grad, Luigi Mangione, who is also facing charges for possessing a forged instrument and a weapon. But let's focus on the bigger picture here. So, what are the potential aftereffects of the murder of the CEO of UnitedHealthcare? Market Confidence: Will this event shake investor confidence in UnitedHealthcare and similar companies? 🧐 Leadership Changes: Are we likely to see a shift in leadership style or corporate strategy at UnitedHealthcare? Regulatory Scrutiny: Could this lead to increased scrutiny or regulation within the insurance industry? Public Perception: How will public trust in i... What Impact Will the UnitedHealthcare CEO's Murder Have on Insurance? Answers:  https://lnkd.in/gGqwxV9f Let's Connect! Have you faced similar challenges? Share you...

From my prior work in #Medicaid #valuebasedcare, co-authoring a successful bid for $1.8 billion from feds (CMS) to the Commonwealth via #DSRIP & 1115 waiver, what I see in the private sector is consolidation that approximates a single payer. Whereas a true single payer (#government) is a service, in contrast, all for-profits exist to maximize #profit. In theory, a “free market” offers constraints, via #competition. Hence: “By buying up every part of our health care system — from the largest #insurer in the nation, largest network of physicians, and everything in between — UnitedHealth Group has successfully bypassed competition and funneled billions of dollars to its own subsidiaries,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) told STAT in a statement. When we wrote the DSRIP bid in MA, even then I saw that the systems that would thrive were the largest ones. Thing is, those beheamouth ones were also the most expensive and highest priced, relying on both #brand and size. Also, many of the “non profits” and academic centers have #venture arms, so the clinical operations end up serving investors. Purchasing decisions by the board have 👀 conflicts of interest that do not center patients. These big systems increasingly are run like car factories or like the hotel industry for most patients, while there is different service and attention for VIP patients. While one hospital’s unequal treatment was profiled here by the The New York Times https://lnkd.in/eYkD4sE9 in fact I’ve seen the same in Boston hospitals. It’s like how there is “first class” for airlines versus “everyone else” flying economy. I was deeply concerned, then, about the smaller community hospitals and independent physician practices, who, in my experience, offer the most personalized, empathetic, old fashioned care that is genuinely caring. There, every patient is a “VIP.” That is the experience patients want, yet that is who was driven out of business. Back then, some things felt not quite right, but I was too naive and green to know what consequences we were going to create. I recall Stewart Healthcare gave me the heebee jeebies. https://lnkd.in/erE4ETUX I not know how to get my concerns heard within the executive team. I did not have outcomes to point to for validating my concerns. Also, I was rewarded for overriding my fellow physicians, many with decades more experience. Looking back, that was the equivalent to the “Ok Boomer” we see today. The work like this that I did throughout my career are what I still cite as my career “accomplishments” in #healthpolicy, but I sometimes wonder at if that work did more harm than good? Even when I was doing the work, this question did keep me up at night. A doctor’s oath and mission is “first do no harm.” I knew a ystem-wide change had many risks. We now need to bring the system into balance.

UnitedHealth CEO says insurer will continue to prevent ‘unnecessary care’ in leaked video: ‘Dude’s next’ By Isabel Keane Published Dec. 9, 2024, 9:53 a.m. ET https://lnkd.in/dS3pVYBc

Q: Did you know that the UnitedHealth suspect was charged? A: A suspect has been apprehended in connection with the murder of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson, which occurred last week. Prosecutors have formally charged Luigi Nicholas Mangione, a 26-year-old Ivy League alumnus from Maryland, with murder and additional offenses, as indicated in a court docket. Mangione, who is thought to have a background in technology, was located at a McDonald's in Pennsylvania. This development followed the fatal shooting of Thompson, the chief executive of UnitedHealthcare, outside a Manhattan hotel prior to an investor meeting, raising significant concerns regarding security within the health insurance sector and leading to a five-day manhunt. ____________________________________________________________________ If you found this valuable, please ♻️ reshare it with your network, and 🔔 follow me for more. #leadership #leadershiptip #learning #vulnerability #inspired #real #communication #culture #linkedinpremium #careeradvancement #professionalnetworking #exclusivetools #buisnesssuccess #oneplusedge #plusonepledge

A Man Was Murdered in Cold Blood and You’re Laughing? At 54, facing various health challenges, I often reflect on the privilege we have in this country, despite the shortcomings of our healthcare system. While improvements are necessary, we are fortunate compared to many around the world. Tim Ferriss sheds light on an article by The New Yorker discussing the implications of the tragic murder of a health-insurance CEO. The piece delves into the crises of gun violence and denials of care by private health insurance companies, emphasizing the complexities within America's healthcare landscape. The article may not have the most appealing headline, but its writing and research are commendable. A poignant quote from People’s Action highlights the dual crises facing America: gun violence and healthcare denials by corporations like UnitedHealth. It's crucial to address the complexities and frustrations of the US healthcare system. Obtaining proper care can be daunting and costly, with personal experiences and those of loved ones illustrating the systemic challenges posed by insurance companies prioritizing profit over patient well-being. The piece exposes the repercussions of lax regulation in healthcare, exemplified by UnitedHealth's acquisition of NaviHealth and its flawed algorithmic care recommendations. The class-action lawsuit revealing a high error rate in patient care decisions underscores the dire consequences of prioritizing stock prices over patient welfare. For more insights, check out the article by Jia Tolentino for The New Yorker: [What the death of a health-insurance C.E.O. means to America](https://lnkd.in/gzYPYw2h). Explore Tim Ferriss's perspective on healthcare at [tim.blog](https://lnkd.in/gp_vktT2). Join the conversation on LinkedIn with Tim Ferriss: [Tim Ferriss on LinkedIn](https://lnkd.in/gT_VP7eb)

Today’s WeeklyLT examines the tragic, targeted shooting death of United Health’s CEO, Brian Thompson, and whether its a microcosm of public frustration toward an overly capitalistic system - a recurring theme in prior posts. On December 4th, Thompson was killed outside a hotel hosting his company’s investor conference. While the gunman remains at large, the incident has sparked CONFLICTED DISCUSSIONS – both public (via social media) and private – about THE DEEP-SEATED ANGER TOWARD THE HEALTH INSURANCE INDUSTRY AND, MORE BROADLY, THE PRIORITIZATION OF PROFITS OVER PEOPLE. Its about all insurance agencies and perhaps OUR OVERLY CAPITALISTIC SYSTEM AS A WHOLE? https://lnkd.in/gYytZGqh United Health, like other publicly traded companies, is driven by a mandate to maximize shareholder value. Critics argue this inherently creates conflicts between corporate profits and patient care. The result? RISING PREMIUMS, DENIED CLAIMS AND DELAYED TREATMENTS. The “system” REJECTS MANY INDIVIDUALS AND/OR THEIR FAMILIES WHEN THEY ARE MOST DESPERATE FOR HELP. Allegations that critical decisions are being made by algorithms (aka, computer programs) adds to the perception of a system prioritizing profits over number of lives. As such, that “SYSTEM” COULD BE EXACERABTING INEQUALITIES AND IMPOSING HEFTY OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES THAT LEAVE SOME FEELING POWERLESS AND EXPLOITED. At its core, THE ANGER STEMS FROM THE DISCONNECT BETWEEN CORPORATE PROFITS AND THE FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN NEEDS OF SAFETY, OPPORTUNITY AND HOPE. The insurance industry can argue the profits enable continued innovation in healthcare solutions, improved technologies and expanded services. However, critics see these justifications as insufficient when profits are perceived to come at the expense of patient well-being. Advocates of systems like in Canada, which guarantees care for all, have its own sets of flaws such as high costs/taxes, long wait times and a shortage of family doctors (who feel they can receive better compensation in other roles). The solution likely lies somewhere in the middle. REFORM DOESN’T MEAN CHOOSING ONE SYSTEM OVER ANOTHER BUT REIMAGINING HEALTHCARE TO ALIGN PROFITABILITY WITH PUBLIC SERVICE, WITHOUT SACRIFICING INNNOVATION. NOT AN EASY TASK BUT HOPEFULLY THERE IS AN INNOVATIVE SOLUTION OUT THERE. And this frustration isn’t limited to health insurance. Industries like home insurance are increasingly facing similar criticism. There are no easy answers, and certainly not more targeted shootings.

Laws that restrain exploitation & domination are NOT just for protecting the less powerful. Most successful professionals don't want to have to hire bodyguards and scrub their public bios out of fear. We're facing the same social challenges we did in the last Gilded Age– which was also characterized by assassinations of powerful business and political figures– because of policy choices that abandoned traditional American governance principles. The below link explains those principles and illustrates this failure with a decision where Judge Carl Nichols shut down a case against United Healthcare at least in part because he weighed the personal vibes of individual executives over concrete business incentives. (To be clear, this is not the direct cause of the shocking murder of the UnitedHealthcare CEO this week; it's just one of many failures that have resulted in 1) a health insurance market that has ruined many lives, and 2) many people losing faith that courts or politicians will fix that market). Real "executive security" comes from recognizing that the social contract goes both ways. People fight back violently when (they perceive that) society is run by corrupt and unaccountable people. The well-off thus have self-interest in upholding a rule of law that prevents the corporations that reward them from exploiting others too much.

**Reflecting on Life, Change, and Resilience** Life has a way of throwing unexpected curveballs, both personally and professionally. Hearing about the tragic loss of Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare insurance division, was one of those moments that makes you pause. Thompson was attending an investor conference—when this devastating event occurred. It’s a stark reminder of life’s fragility and how quickly things can change. As someone who once worked in the Medicare Advantage space, serving individuals 65+, I saw firsthand how change—whether health, financial, or otherwise—impacts lives deeply. Change is inevitable, but how we adapt to it defines us, our organizations, and the cultures we cultivate. In the world of organizational effectiveness and change management, resilience is key. Just as individuals must adapt, so too must organizations. Shifting priorities, unexpected events, or even tragedies challenge our mission and culture. How we respond reflects the strength of our values and vision. This news leaves me reflecting on two important questions I’d love to hear your thoughts on: 1. How do you adapt to unexpected changes—personally or within your organization? 2. What steps are you taking to ensure you’re living your life and fulfilling your mission to the fullest? Let’s start a conversation about navigating change, building resilience, and staying mission-focused—no matter the circumstances. #Leadership #OrganizationalEffectiveness #ChangeManagement #Culture #Resilience #Life #Change #HR #Adapt #OrganizationDevelopment #CEO