Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
After Pulling Back From ACA Marketplace, UnitedHealth Posts Big Q4 Profits
The Wall Street Journal: UnitedHealth’s Revenue, Profit Tops Forecasts
UnitedHealth Group Inc. reported a 56% increase in profit in the latest quarter, with results fueled by growth in its core insurance unit and its Optum health-services arm, as well as reduced impact from its money-losing Affordable Care Act business. The Minnetonka, Minn., company reported net income of $1.90 billion, or $1.96 a share, compared with $1.22 billion, or $1.26, in the year-ago quarter. (Wilde Mathews and Jamerson, 1/17)
The Associated Press: UnitedHealth Looks Beyond Insurance To Help Fuel 4Q Growth
The nation's biggest health insurer made most of its money in the fourth quarter by selling things other than health insurance. UnitedHealth Group's Optum division, which manages prescription drug plans, runs doctor practices and analyzes health care data, generated slightly more of a profit than the company's traditional business of selling insurance. (Murphy, 1/17)
In other health industry news —
The Wall Street Journal: Second Theranos Lab Failed U.S. Inspection
Theranos Inc. failed a second major U.S. regulatory inspection of its laboratory facilities, people familiar with the situation said, a setback the Silicon Valley blood-testing firm hasn’t disclosed to investors or patients.The failed regulatory inspection—at its one active lab at the time—has put the company at risk of a new round of sanctions, these people said. (Weaver and Carreyrou, 1/17)
