A member of UnitedHealth Group, Optum is a leading health services company with a mission to make the health system more efficient for everyone. As such, the company's culture is defined by its desire to help others flourish. Leadership is committed to community involvement, social responsibility, and inclusion and diversity, and Optum offers eligible associates a comprehensive benefits package with educational assistance programs, medical coverage, paid time off, and volunteer programs. In support of a flexible workplace, the company has hired for part-time, flexible schedule, alternative schedule, and remote jobs in the past, including opportunities in medical & health, case management, transcription, customer service, and sales.

Combining expertise and technology with data and analytics, Optum strives to "power modern healthcare” through three principles of change: empowering consumers, modernizing the healthcare system, and improving care. Since 2011, the company's reach has grown to extend across the United States and into 150 countries. Based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Optum operates U.S. branches in Louisville, Kentucky; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Salt Lake City, Utah; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; San Francisco, California; and Providence, Rhode Island; with additional offices across the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, the Middle East, and South America.

Optum serves members across the healthcare system, including over 115 million individuals, 100,000 physicians, and 60,000 retail pharmacies, as well as 300 commercial health plans, government agencies across 34 states, and life sciences companies. As one of the largest behavioral health networks in the nation, the company works with 150,000 behavioral clinicians in 9,000 locations nationwide. To aid in this work of creating healthier futures for all across the globe, Optum has generated a network of over 130,000 professionals.

UnitedHealth Group’s fourth-quarter profit soared as the nation’s largest health insurance provider branched deeper into offering care as well as covering the bills.

The health care giant said Wednesday that operating earnings from its Optum division grew nearly 10% to $3.4 billion in the quarter. Optum runs one of the nation’s largest pharmacy benefits managers and provides care through its Optum Health network of doctors, clinics and surgery centers.

That business served 100 million people last year and saw its revenue per customer increase by a third.

Operating earnings, which don’t count interest expense and taxes, also soared for the company’s UnitedHealthcare insurance side, which added more people through government-funded Medicare Advantage and Medicaid coverage. That business now covers more than 50 million people.

Company executives said Wednesday that COVID-19 costs were in line with expectations during the quarter and were balanced by a drop in doctor visits and other care.

A surge in cases from the omicron variant of the virus hit late in the quarter and has since bumped up patient hospitalization levels. But UnitedHealth said the severity of cases requiring hospitalization care seems to be lower so far.

Overall, UnitedHealth Group earned $4.07 billion in the final quarter of 2021, up from $2.21 billion the previous year.

Removing one-time benefits and charges, per-share earnings were $4.48, or 18 cents better than expected on Wall Street, according to a survey by Zacks Investment Research.

Revenue jumped more than 12% to $73.74 billion and also topped expectations.

UnitedHealth’s Optum Health business works with more than 60,000 physicians and runs primary, specialty and urgent care clinics as well as surgical sites.

The company said it pulled in more revenue per customer as it expanded and shifted more patients into value-based care. That involves reimbursing doctors and other care providers based more on how a patient does rather than for each service performed.

UnitedHealth and rivals like the drugstore chain and insurance provider CVS Health are moving more into providing care in an attempt to keep patients healthier and reduce expensive care like hospital stays.

That approach can bring in more revenue for the care providing side of their businesses while also cutting costs on the insurance side.

Overall, UnitedHealth booked $24 billion in operating earnings last year, with Optum contributing about half that total.

For 2022, the company reaffirmed its forecast for adjusted earnings of between $21.10 and $21.60 per share on revenue ranging from $317 billion to $320 billion.

Analysts expect, on average, earnings of $21.63 per share on $316.76 billion in revenue, according to FactSet.

UnitedHealth shares climbed 2% to $470.40 Wednesday while the Dow Jones Industrial Average, of which UnitedHealth is a component, rose slightly.

The price of UnitedHealth Group Inc. shares topped $500 for the first time late last year, setting a new all-time high for the Minnetonka, Minnesota, company.

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A portion of this story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on UNH at https://www.zacks.com/ap/UNH

Jan 19 (Reuters) - UnitedHealth Group Inc (UNH.N) on Wednesday said added costs of testing and treatment related to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases are being offset by postponements of non-urgent healthcare procedures, and the health insurer maintained its 2022 profit forecast.

The comments should help allay investor concerns that the steep rise in COVID infections and hospitalizations driven by the Omicron variant of the virus in recent weeks would significantly drive up medical costs for health insurers.

Adding to those concerns was a Biden administration initiative requiring insurers to reimburse Americans for up to eight at-home rapid COVID-19 tests per month, while setting no limit for tests, including at-home tests, that insurers must cover if they are ordered or administered by a healthcare provider. read more

UnitedHealth, however, said severity in Omicron cases is "seemingly lower" with patients staying in hospitals for shorter periods compared to last year.

The costs are further offset by deferral of non-urgent healthcare procedures at hospitals, the company said. Many hospitals have put off elective procedures while they deal with a surge in Omicron patients. read more

"Activity over the past several weeks shows primary care visits having declined about 10% and an even higher rate of decline in specialist visits," Chief Financial Officer John Rex said.

Shares of the industry bellwether were up about 1%, lifting those of rivals Anthem Inc (ANTM.N), Humana Inc (HUM.N) and Cigna Corp (CI.N).

Company executives reiterated the 2022 enrollment target for Medicare Advantage (MA) health plans during a conference call, easing some concerns that strong competition in the sector would hamper membership growth.

"UNH directly addressed the two primary sources of investor uncertainty going into the call - increased MA competition and impact from Omicron - favorably," Stephens analyst Scott Fidel said.

Humana earlier this month slashed its 2022 growth forecast for Medicare Advantage plans, citing higher-than-expected terminations in a highly competitive market.

UnitedHealth stuck with its 2022 adjusted profit forecast of between $21.10 and $21.60 per share. It also reported adjusted fourth-quarter earnings that topped Wall Street estimates by 17 cents a share.

Reporting by Manojna Maddipatla in Bengaluru; Editing by Aditya Soni and Bill Berkrot

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

CIOs looking to advance their careers in optum health careers must choose goals that resonate with them, a CIO article reported Jan. 17.

CIO listed 10 ideas CIOs can implement for their personal development:

1. Don't be afraid to implement adventurous ideas

Aim to implement at least one of your most adventurous ideas; this will test how you navigate and achieve goals that may seem impossible.

2. Move your sustainability efforts forward

Determine your organization's sustainability agenda and how you can reduce your emissions. Ensure your digital transformations are reducing emissions and not increasing them.

3. Implement new technology

As technology evolves, emerges and improves, determine what your organization may want to incorporate by trying out these technologies for yourself. You will then be able to determine what benefits they may provide.

4. Incorporate a new analyst firm or coverage area

Try out a new analyst firm or new coverage area. This solana beach sushi restaurants provide a fresh perspective, new advice and valuable experience.

5. Make more allies among fellow executives

Build allies with your peers in the C-suite so you can understand their goals and aid them in success.

6. Be knowledgeable about your organization's finances

Share your organization's financial standing with your staff to show how their contributions contribute to the bigger picture.

7. Collaborate with HR

Work more closely with your human resources department to understand who your new candidates are, what candidates you're looking to hire and what kind optum health careers inclusivity efforts your company is enacting.

8. Collaborate with your marketing team

Communicate with your marketing team about how to ensure your internal practices are just as good as your external practices.

Set goals for IT teams and see which teams you'd like to nominate for awards in 2022.

Provide your marketing teams with digital tools.

9. Participate in IT associations or special industry associations

Network with others in similar organizations and businesses.This will help provide insights, ideas and knowledge about diversification.

10. Start to build on your personal brand

Look to determine what your personal goals and narratives are this year. 

Work on how you will achieve that personal goal and how you will leave your mark on your leadership position.

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