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Optum CMO says workers’ comp partners must align on outcomes
In a discussion published July 15, Optum’s Jeni VerMeulen said rising medical costs and shifting regulations require providers to link data and clinical insights to policy decisions.
Risk & Insurance interviewed Jeni VerMeulen, Chief Marketing Officer for Optum, about what she considers the defining traits of a true partnership in workers’ compensation and auto. VerMeulen said the key difference is alignment, where partners focus on client goals and desired outcomes rather than delivering services on a transactional basis.
She pointed to a more complex environment driven by rising medical costs, changing regulations, and greater emphasis on injured party outcomes. According to VerMeulen, payers need partners who can connect data, clinical insights, and policy so they can make better decisions, not just provide the requested service.
VerMeulen contrasted vendor behavior with partnership behavior, saying vendors typically respond to defined requests, while partners work to change the trajectory so problems do not recur. She added that this approach involves bringing forward data, asking tougher questions, challenging assumptions, and having more strategic conversations when necessary.
The interview was published July 15, 2026, and was edited for length and clarity, according to Risk & Insurance.