Seven UnitedHealth Group shareholders are calling on the health care conglomerate to produce a report on how often its policies lead to denied or delayed care, and the effects on patients and the economy.
The proposal, which could go up for a vote by UnitedHealth’s investors at the company’s annual meeting later this year, comes as the company is under tremendous public scrutiny for tactics such as prior authorization and care denials. The killing of the CEO of UnitedHealth’s health insurance business in early December ignited a firestorm of anger — not against the alleged killer, but against health insurers like UnitedHealth who many blame for the industry’s dysfunction.
The shareholders who filed the proposal are members of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, a nonprofit coalition of more than 300 institutional investors that organizes around issues like health equity, climate, and labor rights. Much of the group’s work in recent years has focused on how drugmaker policies affect access to treatments.
The request for a report on denied or delayed care is a response to growing concerns about the impact of UnitedHealth’s policies on patients and the economy. The shareholders are seeking transparency and accountability from the company to understand the frequency and consequences of care denials.
As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, stakeholders are becoming increasingly vocal about the need for companies like UnitedHealth to prioritize patient care over profits. The call for a report on denied or delayed care is a step towards holding the company accountable and ensuring that patients receive timely and necessary treatment.
UnitedHealth Group has yet to respond to the shareholders’ request, but the proposal is expected to spark a larger conversation within the company and the healthcare industry as a whole. It remains to be seen how UnitedHealth will address the concerns raised by its investors and the broader public, but the call for transparency and accountability is a clear indication of the growing demand for ethical and patient-centered healthcare practices.
