Former Mayo Clinic CEO joins UnitedHealth’s board of directors
John Noseworthy, M.D., former CEO of Mayo Clinic, has joined the board of directors at UnitedHealth Group.
Noseworthy, M.D., became chief executive at Mayo in 2009 and retired in December. In announcing his new role at UnitedHealth, Stephen Hemsley, executive chairman of the board, praised Noseworthy’s background in leading healthcare innovation, research and quality.
“John is an innovator whose early advocacy for more integrated health delivery supported by the latest technology has been combined with a dedication to maintaining and enhancing the care experience for patients,” Hemsley said. “We welcome his expertise as UnitedHealth Group works to improve the future of healthcare.” (Announcement)
Employees cite help with health, well-being as top priority
More than 60% of employees are looking to their employers for assistance in all aspects of health and well-being.
According to a recent study by Welltok, people expect their employers to help them achieve their personal goals, and only 16% of those surveyed strongly agree that they know where to find all of the health and well-being resources available to them. In fact, 56% of employees report receiving irrelevant support, wasting time and money.
So, what are employees looking for? Eighty percent said that offering more personalized programs would motivate them to get healthy, citing services such as massages and time off from work.
Stress plays a big factor in employees’ overall well-being. The report stated that 65% of U.S. workers believe companies should be responsible for helping their employees manage or reduce workplace stress, yet only 33% believe that their employer offers them these tools. (Report [PDF])
California payer Riverstone Capital may file for bankruptcy
Modesto, California-based insurer Riverstone Capital has been in hot water with the Department of Labor, and it’s now considering bankruptcy.
The department filed a complaint against Riverstone earlier this month, saying that it charged low premiums in an effort to draw in members while hitting them with large fees. As of December, the department said that it had failed to pay more than $24 million in claims.
Riverstone manages health plans for 112 employers in the region, with 16,000 members. (The Modesto Bee)