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…