UnitedHealth Cleans House

With the political landscape changing, possibly putting its big Medicare opportunity in danger, UnitedHealth (UNH Quote) has announced some major housecleaning of its own.

Stephen Hemsley, tapped to replace disgraced William McGuire as CEO, is expected to lead the company for another four years. But several other leaders -- including the CFO, the general counsel and the head of human resources -- have all been thrown out.

The shift in power, unimaginable less than a year ago, comes in response to a stock-option backdating scandal that likely will result in "material" charges for the company. ...