Leaked video shows UnitedHealth CEO saying insurer will continue practices that combat 'unnecessary' care
Witty's comments come after UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was killed last week
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The CEO of UnitedHealth Group said in a leaked internal video that the insurance company will continue to work to prevent "unnecessary" and "unsafe" care that would strain the health care system.
"Our role is a critical role, and we make sure that care is safe, appropriate, and is delivered when people need it," United Health CEO Andrew Witty said in the video address to the company's employees following the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, which was leaked to journalist Ken Klippenstein.
Witty is the CEO of UnitedHealth Group, the parent company of UnitedHealthcare. Thompson was killed in what police say was a targeted attack in New York City last week, prompting a manhunt for the suspect.
UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was killed in a targeted attack last week. The company is a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images / Getty Images)
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"We guard against the pressures that exist for unsafe care or for unnecessary care to be delivered in a way which makes the whole system too complex and ultimately unsustainable," Witty said.
He added that employees should "tune out" criticism of the insurance company, saying that it "does not reflect reality."
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UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty said the company will pay tribute to Brian Thompson's legacy. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Witty said the company is going to "continue to make sure that we put patients, consumers, and members first, as we always have done. The mission of this company is truly to make sure that we help the system improve by helping the experience for individuals get better and better."
"There is nobody who did more to try and advance that mission than Brian Thompson. And there are very few people in the history of the U.S. health care industry who had a bigger positive effect on American health care than Brian," Witty said. "We are going to make sure that we not only acknowledge and honor that legacy of Brian, but we'll continue it."
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UnitedHealth did not respond to FOX Business' request for comment.