After Eden Prairie, Minn.-based Optum hit $101.3 billion in revenue for 2018, Minnetonka, Minn.-based UnitedHealth Group CEO David Wichmann and Optum CEO Andrew Witty discussed the segment's outlook.
Here are four key quotes from the fourth quarter 2018 earnings call, as transcribed by Seeking Alpha:
David Wichmann: "Optum's earnings were ahead and UnitedHealthcare's earnings were in line, and virtually all businesses closed out the year with strong momentum. Overall medical costs remain well-controlled and our positive forecast for 2019 remains consistent across all lines of business."
Andrew Witty: "...our [Worcester, Mass.-based] Reliant Medical Group was recognized having the lowest total cost of care by the State of Massachusetts. We complement our medical group with high-value ambulatory care services like our [Deerfield, Ill.-based Surgical Care Affiliates] Surgery Centers, [Morgantown, W.Va.-based] MedExpress Neighborhood Care Clinics, Briova Infusion Capability and Optum House Calls, all of [which] support improving the quality, cost and experience of healthcare."
AW: "Looking ahead, the 150,000 people at Optum are incredibly enthusiastic about 2019 and our opportunity to a longer term growth and performance. … We are seeing the fruits of two decades worth of strategic investments with strong business wins and pipelines and the many platform expansion opportunities we have in the United States alone, not to mention the global potential."
AW: "More fully leveraging data analytics across all of Optum through digital and physical engagement with patients and physicians will be key to reducing cost and improving the value and experience to people in this increasingly resource intensive market segments."