Optum Calls Off Sale of Stewardship Health to Optum Care, Amid Concerns of Impact on Massachusetts Healthcare Market
Optum has informed the Health Policy Commission that they are no longer pursuing an agreement with Steward for the sale of Stewardship Health to Optum Care. This move comes after state officials confirmed on Friday that the sale of Steward Health Care’s physician network to for-profit insurer Optum has been called off. The potential sale was first announced in March, but the necessary information was never submitted to the HPC to begin a review process required for the sale to proceed.
Many state and federal lawmakers voiced concerns about the possible sale, with House Speaker Ronald Mariano warning of the impact on the competitiveness of the healthcare market in Massachusetts. However, Optum did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
In a statement on Friday, Steward announced that the regulatory review process by the Department of Justice was challenging, leading to the decision not to move forward with the sale. The company emphasized that Stewardship Health is a valuable asset that provides excellent care for patients and that negotiations are ongoing with other interested parties for the acquisition of
