This week, after the homicide of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, our social media feeds, together with articles on numerous information retailers, have been crammed with opinions in regards to the state of healthcare within the U.S. On Friday, an unlikely particular person, Andrew Witty, CEO of UnitedHealth Group, guardian firm of United Healthcare, joined the dialog by means of a New York Times op-ed.
“We all know the well being system doesn’t work in addition to it ought to,” Witty admitted. “Nobody would design a system just like the one we have now. And nobody did. It’s a patchwork constructed over many years. Our mission is to assist make it work higher.”
Whereas at instances, Witty appeared sympathetic to the American individuals’s ache, aggravation, and for some, sense of hopelessness, he additionally pressed that the system is “crammed with individuals who attempt to do their greatest” for the nation. He referred to as slain CEO Brian Thompson “a kind of individuals” and asserted that the legacy he leaves behind is an admirable one.
Not everybody agreed with the assertion that Thompson was a good particular person, or, particularly, that healthcare firms are in truth striving to do higher. It’s unsurprising, on condition that this week, the general public has expressed an outpouring of admiration, even sympathy, for the suspected murderer. Numerous devastating tales had been being shared about claims for pressing care having been denied and the ache, struggling, and even demise because of the negligence of healthcare firms—suggesting that some Individuals see healthcare higher-ups, versus the alleged shooter, because the way more culpable enemy.
The response to the op-ed was swift and brimming with emotion. Whereas some got here to the feedback to criticize those that are defending an alleged assassin, many criticized healthcare firms as being purely profit-driven. Some shared difficult private experiences with United Healthcare, actually. “After I had UHC and my then-husband wanted spinal surgical procedure, UHC deemed most of it medically pointless and socked us with a $300k invoice as our share,” one commenter wrote. “It took me two years to combat it however lastly acquired it decreased to our out-of-pocket restrict at the moment. However not everybody has the power or capability to combat.”
Healthcare professions additionally responded to the piece by sharing their skilled experiences coping with United Healthcare—and sustaining that its insurance policies are among the most unethical within the business. “As an outpatient M.D., I can let you know that I do know why United was the MOST worthwhile of all of the healthcare firms—as a result of it denied probably the most,” wrote one other commenter. “United made me get authorization for affordable medicines like ACE inhibitors, and assessments like Ultrasounds. No different main insurer did that.”
After hundreds of individuals posted, lashing out on the creator for his “hole” and “tone-deaf” view, the NYT finally closed the feedback.
Earlier this week, images and IDs of no less than two different healthcare CEOs had been placed on “wanted posters” and hung up round New York Metropolis—with photographs of the posters circulating extensively on-line. Not surprisingly, there has additionally been a surge in threats towards healthcare workers and “hit lists” making the rounds on social media. As a precaution, a number of healthcare firms have eliminated photographs of their CEOs from firm web sites.