By Amina Niasse and Ross Kerber
NEW YORK/BOSTON (Reuters) – UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: ) shareholders said on Wednesday they had asked the company to prepare a report on the costs and public health impact of its “practices that limit or delay access to health care.”
If the proposal comes to a vote at the company’s annual meeting, it would raise a sensitive topic after a senior executive was killed in Manhattan last month.
A UnitedHealth spokesman said the company will respond to shareholder proposals for its 2025 proxy statement after it files the document that serves as the agenda for the annual meeting, which has not yet been scheduled. In recent years, the company has issued its proxy in April prior to the June annual meeting.
Those who filed the ruling include religious groups led by the Sisters of the Holy Name of Jesus and Mary of Quebec and Trillium Asset Management.
The group proposed an analysis of how preauthorization, or authorization required by an insurer before a patient can receive medical care, and denial of medical services lead patients to drop out of treatment.
“The pattern of delays and denials of needed medical care by UnitedHealth and other insurance companies harms more than the patient,” said Wendell Potter, president of the Center for Health and Democracy and former CEO of Cigna (NYSE: ). statement sent by the Interfaith Center for Corporate Responsibility in support of the resolution.
UnitedHealth operates the nation’s largest health insurer, UnitedHealthcare, as well as pharmacy benefits manager Optum and physician practices.
The killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December sparked criticism of US health insurers, with swarms of patients describing delayed or denied care and accusing the companies of using deceptive practices.
Luigi Mangione, 26, who was charged with Thompson’s murder, pleaded not guilty in a New York court in December after receiving thousands of dollars in public donations shortly after his arrest.
In a December statement, UnitedHealth said it approves and pays an average of 90% of medical claims submitted.
“Very inaccurate and grossly misleading information has been circulated about the way our company handles insurance claims,” UnitedHealth said.
In a message to employees, UnitedHealth CEO Andrew Witty described Thompson as “one of the good guys,” adding that the company will continue to serve the most vulnerable Americans.
