Healthcare payers, including giants like UnitedHealthcare and its subsidiary Optum, are increasingly expanding their influence into the provider side of healthcare. This trend raises significant questions about competition and ethics within the industry. With UnitedHealth Group’s Optum now the largest employer of physicians in the U.S., there is a growing concern that payers are aiming to control healthcare delivery, potentially to prioritize their own profits over patient care. This level of consolidation could lead to reduced competition, limiting choice for patients and potentially driving up costs. It also raises ethical concerns about conflicts of interest, as payers may prioritize their own provider networks in contract pricing, potentially at the expense of independent providers. The balance of power in healthcare is shifting, and it’s crucial to ensure that patient care remains the top priority amidst these changing dynamics.
The Trend: Providers Buying Payers
Payers continue to acquire providers in an alarming trend. This may be an attempt to control the entire healthcare system for their own profit.
In fact, according to Becker’s Payer, UnitedHealth Group’s Optum is the largest employer of physicians in the U.S.
In the first five days of 2024, three deals were already pending.
Now, Optum is attempting to buy an Oregon physician group, but is experiencing major pushback.
In a report from Oregon Health Authority, Oregon Senate Majority Whip Sara Gelser Blouin pointed out that Optum is “a massive organization that is not shy about repeatedly cutting corners, skirting the law, and putting patients at risk.”
It is important these deals remain in the spotlight to curb harmful consolidation trends.
Are Insurers Favoring Their Own Groups in Contract Pricing to Limit Competition?
The Justice Department is investigating United Health Group for potential antitrust violations, according to The Wall Street Journal. Investigators are examining whether UnitedHealthcare has favored their Optum-owned groups in contract pricing, potentially limiting competition.
This investigation comes amid broader antitrust efforts by the Biden administration, which views the healthcare industry as a significant focus area. A lawsuit by Emanate Health has also accused Optum of anti-competitive behavior, alleging efforts to prevent patients from contacting doctors who joined competing medical groups.
The outcome of this probe could have significant implications for competition within the healthcare industry.
United Health Bought Providers and Exploited An Emergency They Created
UnitedHealth’s exploitation of an “emergency it created” raises serious ethical concerns.
The recent ransomware attack left an Oregon medical practice in dire straits, with UnitedHealth swooping in for an emergency takeover.
This move, amidst the chaos caused by the weeks-long outage of UnitedHealth’s Change Healthcare systems, seems opportunistic and callous. Instead of proactively assisting struggling healthcare providers, UnitedHealth has seemingly profited from the situation.
This underscores the troubling power dynamics in healthcare, where a massive insurer with extensive resources can pressure struggling providers into selling. It’s a reminder of the need for transparency and accountability in the healthcare industry. Patients and providers alike deserve better than to be at the mercy of big insurance and its profit-driven interests.
There is Power in Numbers
What can you do when insurers continue to amass power? Providers must also find strength in numbers themselves. Along with collaborative conversations to share best practices and strategies, healthcare providers, physician groups, hospitals, EMS specialists, and more can join forces by accessing Allia Group’s bundled litigation model to recover withheld revenue from insurers. Contact us for more information.
