One year after Thompson murder, industry grapples with reform and security

Stephenson’s law firm works with hospitals to ensure that payors cover medically necessary and emergency services. But Thompson’s murder has also had an impact on the broader corporate world, says Brian Hess, senior director, security risk and resilience, for The Chertoff Group, a global security company in Washington, D.C.

“Thompson’s murder was a wake-up call — not just for the health care and insurance industries, but for every publicly visible organization,” he says. “And since last December, we’ve seen that companies are spending record amounts to protect executives. What once was considered a specialized perk for a few high-profile leaders has now become a strategic imperative across sectors.”

As the threat landscape has evolved, so too have the expectations of corporate boards, investors and high-net-worth families. “We’ve seen other incidents in the last year as well, including the targeted attack of the NFL headquarters building in New York and the murder and attack of Minnesota legislators in their homes,” Hess says.

One year after Thompson’s murder, the case against accused killer Luigi Mangione continues to unfold in court. His defense teams are currently battling prosecutors in two cases:

• Mangione was in court in New York City during early December seeking to have key evidence ruled inadmissible ahead of his trial. This includes statements to authorities following his arrests and evidence allegedly recovered from a backpack, including a 3D printed pistol, a notebook containing an anti-health insurance "manifesto" and a plot to kill an insurance CEO.
• Lawyers in his federal death penalty case, which will return to court on January 9, are trying to get much of the same evidence tossed.

Meanwhile, Thompson’s murder has also had a significant impact on both the insurance industry and in the health care policy arena.  From the enactment of the Affordable Care Act in 2010 to the current debate over extending enhanced Marketplace subsidies, sharp policy disagreements are nothing new. Thompson’s murder, however, escalated the debate beyond mere words.

UnitedHealth Group and other major insurers have acknowledged the urgent need for reforming internal practices. Andrew Witty, the company’s former CEO, has openly recognized systemic flaws and pledged renewed efforts to improve transparency and customer relations.

“The conversation has become more urgent and more human,” Stephenson says. “Technical issues like prior authorization or network adequacy are no longer just operational debates — they’re seen as issues of trust, fairness and accountability. Even inside the industry, there is growing recognition that the public’s patience is wearing thin. The question is no longer whether reform will happen, but how deep it needs to go.”

Although vocal public support for Mangione and anger at the industry came as a shock to many, it exposed underlying frustration with aspects of the current system.

“Some of the loudest voices may have been a minority, but the grievances they expressed — high premiums, rising deductibles, claim denials, medical debt — are widely shared across the country,” she says. “The disturbing part is that some people saw violence as the only way to be heard. That should alarm every stakeholder in health care.”

AHIP is among the industry associations advocating for change.

“Health plans continue to embrace the shared responsibility to improve how patients experience a health care system that remains too costly, complex and fragmented,” spokesperson Chris Bond says. “From advocating for commonsense reforms to promote affordability, to providing certainty around the coverage of vaccines, to our ongoing actions to simplify the prior authorization process and more, health plans are doing their part to modernize America’s health care system and connect patients with high-quality care that is safe, evidence-based and more affordable.”

Politicians wasted little time promoting both incremental and more radical changes to the system. Some, such as Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., favor a Medicare for All policy. Other legislators have pushed for more moderate measures, such as stronger regulations on insurance companies; increased funding for preventive and proactive health programs; and stronger transparency mandates to ensure fairer pricing and reduce medical billing surprises. Several industry groups back other practical steps, including:

• Standardizing electronic prior authorization;
• Reducing the scope of claims subject to prior authorization;
• Ensuring continuity of care when patients change plans;
• Enhancing communication and transparency regarding coverage determinations;
• Expanding real-time responses; and
• Ensuing medical review of unapproved requests.

“These measurable commitments — addressing improvements like timeliness, scope and streamlining — mark a meaningful step forward in our work together to create a better system of health,” Kim Keck, president and CEO of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, said in a news release. “This is an important foundation to address bigger problems together, at a time when technology and interoperability can deliver real improvements to patient experience.”

Individual benefits advisors and consultants can contribute to reducing the temperature by helping customers understand the cost and regulatory constraints the industry faces and how they are being addressed.

“The most powerful message brokers and agents can offer is, ‘you’re not alone in this, and I’ll help you navigate the system,’” Stephenson says. “People need reassurance as much as they need information. Be honest about trade-offs, explain options in plain language and step in quickly when something goes wrong — especially with billing or denials. That builds trust faster than anything else. In today’s environment, empathy is a competitive advantage. The advisors who thrive are the ones who combine expertise with a real understanding of how stressful health care decisions can be.”
This is especially sound advice as the nation heads into what could be a contentious 2026.

“We’ll see continued focus on prior authorization, mental health parity, drug pricing and the financial strain on small businesses and families,” she says. “With the midterms approaching, health care will absolutely return as a hot-button issue — and not in abstract terms. Voters are focused on affordability, fairness and whether the system is working for them.

“This moment can either deepen division or drive meaningful change. I hope we choose the latter.”