State health care officials were informed on Tuesday about the planned sale of Stewardship Health Inc. and Steward Health Care Network to OptumCare, a UnitedHealth Group subsidiary.
Stewardship Health Inc. oversees Stewardship Health Medical Group Inc., which employs primary care doctors and other clinicians in nine states, according to the Health Policy Commission.
HPC Director David Seltz expressed the significance of the proposed change involving two large medical providers and its potential impact on healthcare delivery and costs in Massachusetts and nationally. The HPC and antitrust authorities need to review the details before the sale can proceed.
The HPC will evaluate the potential impacts within 30 days of receiving all necessary information about the sale. If the sale is expected to significantly affect healthcare costs and market functioning, a full Cost and Market Impact Review can be initiated.
Congressman Jake Auchincloss immediately expressed concerns about the proposed purchase, calling it “alarming.”
Auchincloss emphasized the importance of Steward's physician-led practices in providing critical medical care to Greater Fall River & Greater Taunton and urged for their continued operation.
Congressman Auchincloss raised concerns about the prospect of UnitedHealth Group buying Stewardship Health, citing UnitedHealth's federal antitrust investigation and its negative impact on patients and physicians due to its corporatization of healthcare over the past five decades.
Auchincloss stated his opposition to the purchase, highlighting the negative impact of UnitedHealth Group's corporate approach on patients and physicians.
The sale of Steward's eight Massachusetts hospitals also requires review by the HPC and the Determination of Need program at the Department of Public Health.
Steward Operations Holdings LLC anticipated providing Notices of Material Change regarding transactions concerning certain acute care hospitals and other provider operations in the next 12 months.
