UnitedHealth Group Audit Results Released
- unitedhealthcare on Friday released the first results from a sprawling independent audit of its business practices and committed to a wide range of steps to track and implement...
- The health-care giant said it has adopted 23 ongoing "action plans" to put in place and monitor recommended improvements, with oversight by its internal audit and advisory services...
- The results come as private insurers try to rebuild trust with the American public after fierce, pent-up backlash over their practices and the broader U.S.
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UnitedHealth Releases Audit Results, Commits to Improvements
unitedhealthcare on Friday released the first results from a sprawling independent audit of its business practices and committed to a wide range of steps to track and implement improvements in three specific areas.
The health-care giant said it has adopted 23 ongoing “action plans” to put in place and monitor recommended improvements, with oversight by its internal audit and advisory services team. Around 65% of those actions will be complete by the end of 2025, while 100% of those plans will be finished by the end of March next year.
The results come as private insurers try to rebuild trust with the American public after fierce, pent-up backlash over their practices and the broader U.S. health-care system. Critics say insurer business tactics have made it harder for some patients to access and pay for care. The company owns UnitedHealthcare, the nation’s largest and most powerful insurer.
While the announcement on Friday is a step toward improving the business, it’s unclear how much it will change the public’s view on the company and the broader industry.
UnitedHealth in July announced that two independent consultancies had launched a third-party review of its business policies and performance metrics. That same day, UnitedHealth also confirmed that it is facing department of Justice investigations over its Medicare billing practices.
The independent audit marked one of Steve Hemsley’s earliest steps as CEO after he took the reins in May, following the abrupt departure of Andrew Witty.
“We hope that you see these assessments as a commitment to setting a new standard of clarity for the health care marketplace, as we believe that you and every person who engages with our health system deserves to understand how we go about our work,” Hemsley said in a letter Friday.
“We know that our actions and decisions have notable impacts on patients,care providers and the broader health system,and we are determined to hold ourselves to the highest standard,” he added.
FTI Consulting reviewed UnitedHealthcare’s approaches to risk assessment operations within its Medicare advantage programs, which refers to how the company rates the health status of members in those privately run plans. The firm also examined the company’s…