UnitedHealth Group Announces “Optum” Master Brand for its Health Services Businesses

April 11th, 2011 | Broadcast Technology , Computer & Electronics , Computer Software , Internet , Technology | 0 Comments »

Single brand simplifies offerings for the broad health services marketplace

MINNETONKA, Minn. (April 11, 2011) –

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) today announced that the company’s health services businesses will unify their market presence under the master brand Optum(TM).

This brand unification is focused on making it easier for the broad health services marketplace to understand and access the company’s full range of capabilities that help participants throughout the health care system improve health, increase efficiency and create a better overall experience for consumers.

“Just as our distinct health benefits businesses market under the UnitedHealthcare master brand, our individual health services businesses will now align their market engagement under the Optum brand, as the next step in the evolution of our two business platforms,” said Stephen Hemsley, president and CEO, UnitedHealth Group.

The change reflects increased coordination and collaboration among three leading health services companies that are committed to addressing meaningful and positive change across the health care system: OptumHealth(TM), which will retain its name; OptumInsight(TM), which will replace the Ingenix name; and OptumRx(TM), which will replace the Prescription Solutions name. These combined businesses serve more than 60 million people, have more than 30,000 employees, and in 2010 reported combined revenues of $25 billion, giving Optum as a whole the scale of a FORTUNE 100 enterprise.

“We are aligning these businesses to better match the way we serve clients and the way our clients access health services,” said G. Mike Mikan, CEO of Optum. “This step will make it simpler for clients to connect with the broad expertise and innovative capabilities across our businesses, so we can help them improve population health, reduce the cost of care and make health care work better for everyone. Clients will know they can come to Optum for all their health services needs.”

OptumHealth, which supports and delivers population health solutions that address the physical, mental and financial health needs of individuals and organizations, will retain its name but adjust its brand positioning to fit the new Optum brand. Ingenix, a leading health information and analytics, technology, services and consulting business, will become OptumInsight. Prescription Solutions, which specializes in the delivery, clinical management and affordability of prescription medications and consumer health products, will become OptumRx. The three companies will continue to operate under the leadership, respectively, of Dawn Owens, CEO of OptumHealth, Andy Slavitt, CEO of OptumInsight, and Jacqueline Kosecoff, CEO of OptumRx. Migration to the new brands is expected to take place over the next 12 months.

The Optum businesses serve care providers, including 250,000 professionals or groups and 6,200 hospital facilities; more than 270 state and federal government agencies; over 2,000 independent health plans; two of every five FORTUNE 500 employers; 2,200 global life sciences companies; and one in every five U.S. consumers. Together, these businesses help organizations address significant challenges such as improving clinical performance, implementing new models for care delivery and reimbursement, complying with new regulations, and reducing administrative and financial burdens. Optum’s deep understanding of the needs of the multiple participants across the health ecosystem enables it to deliver collaborative solutions that provide the insights and care to help build sustainable health communities.
About Optum

Optum is an information and technology-enabled health services business platform serving the broad health care marketplace, including care providers, plan sponsors, life sciences companies and consumers. Its business units – OptumInsight, OptumHealth and OptumRx – employ more than 30,000 people worldwide.
About UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) is a diversified health and well-being company dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and making health care work better. With headquarters in Minnetonka, Minn., UnitedHealth Group offers a broad spectrum of products and services through two distinct platforms: UnitedHealthcare, which provides health care coverage and benefits services; and Optum, which provides information and technology-enabled health services. Through its businesses, UnitedHealth Group serves more than 75 million people worldwide. Visit www.unitedhealthgroup.com for more information.

Source: Optum