UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty told analysts that the company is positioned well for growth in 2025. This comes just a month after the CEO of its insurance unit was murdered.

Click in for more news from The Hill{beacon} Health Care Health Care   The Big Story UnitedHealth CEO blames drug companies for high costsIn his first public remarks since the murder of

The CEO of UnitedHealth Group defended the company's role in the U.S. health care system days after a report said the company made huge profits by significantly marking up the cost of lifesaving drugs.

In his first public remarks since the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last month and the backlash against the insurance industry it provoked, Witty said the healthcare conglomerate is looking for ways to simplify and accelerate its prior authorization processes. He did not offer specifics.

UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty acknowledged the U.S. health care problems, cited high prices of medical services as root cause.

Pharmacy benefit managers actually "play a vital role in holding" sometimes-inflated prices down, said UHG CEO Andrew Witty in an earnings call.

But high medical costs contributed to results that disappointed Wall Street, and the company’s stock fell on the news that it had made less than analysts expected.

Jan. 16 at 1:45 p.m. ETUnitedHealth Group's Optum Rx unit made a commitment to pass through 100% of rebates negotiated with drugmakers to the client. | UnitedHealth Group reported $5.5 billion in profit for the fourth quarter of 2024,

In the first public appearance since Brian Thompson's slaying in early December, UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty addressed the public's discontent, skirting responsibility and blaming drug companies and hospitals for the health care system's failures.

UnitedHealth Group's top executive said the company's murdered health insurance executive Brian Thompson worked to make the nation's health care system better for everyone. UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty also acknowledged the U.

This value-based world in which we find ourselves living presents a fascinating paradox. At the same time that it promises to reduce costs for the healthcare system, and keep people in their homes and out of the hospital,