From organizations pushing back against its new gastroenterology endoscopy prior authorization policy, to its CEO seeing the largest percentage increase in compensation between 2021 and 2022 among large payers, here are 11 updates on UnitedHealth Group Becker's has reported since May 3.
1. A coalition of 175 organizations signed a letter urging UnitedHealthcare not to implement a new gastroenterology endoscopy prior authorization policy that is set to go into effect June 1.
2. Michael Le, MD, former chief medical officer of UnitedHealth Group's Optum Home and Community, left the company to join physician-led public benefit company WelbeHealth.
3. Amwell named former Optum Chief Consumer Officer Kathy Weiler as executive vice president and chief commercial and growth officer, effective June 1.
4. The UnitedHealth Foundation released its 11th annual "America's Health Rankings Senior Report."
5. UnitedHealth Group is the largest insurer in the United States by membership and the largest employer of physicians in the country. Here's 50 things to know about the healthcare giant.
6. Aetna, UnitedHealthcare and two other insurance companies will pay a combined $4.6 million to New York state to settle allegations the companies charged unapproved rates for student insurance.
7. EHR vendor Athenahealth named former UnitedHealth Group Vice President of Strategy and Business Development George Hamilton its chief corporate strategy and development officer.
8. Gold Kidney Health Plan named Gregg Kunemund, former UnitedHealthcare Medicare/Medicaid Health Plan CEO, its chief operating officer.
9. UnitedHealth Group added 1,195,000 members in the first quarter of 2023.
10. UnitedHealth Group had the highest profit among large payers in the first quarter of 2023.
11. UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty had the largest percentage increase in compensation between 2021 and 2022 among large payers, according to regulatory filings.