UnitedHealth Group announced a new chief executive Tuesday, a sudden and surprising change following the fatal shooting in December of its UnitedHealthcare subsidiary’s leader.

Andrew Witty stepped down from leading UnitedHealth for unspecified “personal reasons,” the company said. Stephen J. Hemsley, who served as chief executive from 2006 to 2017, will return to the role and remain board chairman. Witty will serve as a senior adviser to Hemsley, the company said in a news release.

UnitedHealth has been the focus of sharp criticism over the health insurance industry’s practices and has seen its stock plummet in the past year. The Justice Department has investigated its business activities.

  • CalipherJones@lemmy.world
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    1 day ago

    I worked at a meeting for healthcare executives. They specifically told us not to mention that it was a healthcare conference. They’re scared of justice.

    • topherclay@lemmy.world
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      14 hours ago

      Healthcare or health insurance? We shouldn’t conflate the two just because The health insurance company has “healthcare” in its name and it got away with that stupid trick in the media.

      If healthcare executives are afraid, then they have every incentive to be making sure people untangle that conflation of terminology that the health insurance companies are taking advantage of.

      Health insurance is not healthcare.

      • whoisearth@lemmy.ca
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        11 hours ago

        Health insurance is not healthcare.

        Being glib. It’s the denial of healthcare isn’t it? Lol