Optum health care scrutinized by congressman for alleged decline in service

Has Optum, Inc. gone too far in consolidating the health care industry, causing service quality and access to plummet? Congressman Pat Ryan has launched a community inquiry into the matter, asking for feedback on the impact of Optum’s acquisitions of Hudson Valley medical practices. The initiative follows numerous complaints from the community.

OptumHealth, a UnitedHealth Group subsidiary, acquired CareMount Medical in 2022 and Crystal Run Healthcare in 2023, consolidating physician services in the region.

Residents report difficulties scheduling appointments, billing issues, long wait times, and reduced care quality. Employees cite layoffs and overburdened work schedules. UnitedHealth Group is under federal investigation for potential anticompetitive practices, including claims of preferential reimbursement rates and Medicare payment manipulation.

The Optum Urgent Care facility in Lake Katrine has a 1.8-star rating on Google, rife with critical statements such as: “This place sucks”, “They are the pits”, “Since Optum has taken over the services have all gone downhill”, “Optum has ruined this place”, “Piss poor urgent care” and “If I could give it zero or negative stars, I would.”

Optum has rapidly expanded nationwide, now employing one in ten U.S. physicians. Critics argue its dominance prioritizes profits over patient care. Ryan, advocating for lower healthcare costs, supports legislation to curb monopolies, reduce drug prices, and reform Pharmacy Benefit Managers.

OptumRx, a subsidiary of parent company Optium, Inc., has been acccused by the Federal Trade Commission of engaging in anticompetitive practices that contribute to increased drug prices, along with conflicts of interest.

Ryan urges Hudson Valley residents to share their experiences through a community survey to guide his efforts in holding corporations accountable and improving healthcare access.

Subsequent to news coverage of the issue, an Optum spokesperson issued the following statement to reporters: “Since these practices chose to join Optum, we have introduced a number of new measures to continue to enhance our services, including dedicated teams responsible for scheduling and supporting medication refills and clinical questions, as well as technology investments to improve our patients’ experiences.”