UnitedHealthcare taps company veteran as next CEO
UnitedHealthcare has announced a new CEO, with company veteran Tim Noel stepping into the role following the tragic murder of former head, Brian Thompson.
Before being appointed CEO, Noel led the Medicare and Retirement Reimbursement department at the insurance giant, which is the largest private insurer in the U.S. by revenue. Noel has been with the company since 2007.
In a statement, UnitedHealth Group, the parent company of UnitedHealthcare, praised Noel, saying he “brings unparalleled experience to this role, with a proven track record and a strong commitment to improving how health care works for consumers, physicians, employers, governments, and our other partners.”
UnitedHealth Group is the largest healthcare conglomerate in the U.S. by revenue, generating over $400 billion last year. Its CEO, Andrew Witty, has held the role since February 2021.
The company faces challenges ahead, including an ongoing battle with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) over its proposed merger with Amedisys, a home healthcare and hospice provider, valued at $3.3 billion.
UnitedHealthcare is also being sued over its use of the NaviHealth Predict tool, which, according to court filings, automatically denies care reimbursement at an alarming rate, with 90% of appeals resulting in overturned denials. The company has denied wrongdoing, stating the tool makes decisions based on data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Both lawsuits are pending.
The man accused of killing Thompson, Luigi Mangione, has been arrested on charges including first-degree murder and is awaiting trial in New York.
Noel is expected to begin his duties as CEO immediately, succeeding Thompson.
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