FOLLOWING MASS ACQUISITIONS OF HUDSON VALLEY MEDICAL PRACTICES BY OPTUM, CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN LAUNCHES COMMUNITY INQUIRY INTO IMPACTS OF CONSOLIDATION ON ACCESS AND QUALITY OF CARE
Following Mass Acquisitions of Hudson Valley Medical Practices by Optum, Congressman Pat Ryan Launches Community Inquiry into Impacts of Consolidation on Access and Quality of Care
OptumHealth, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, has purchased medical practices across the Hudson Valley, including CareMount Medical and Crystal Run Healthcare
In recent months, Ryan’s office has received numerous complaints on both quality and accessibility of care
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, after receiving numerous complaints from community members regarding decreases in care quality and accessibility at Optum-owned medical practices in the Hudson Valley, Congressman Pat Ryan launched a community inquiry to gather stories of how Optum ownership has impacted the quality of medical care received at these facilities and directly inform his oversight actions going forward. United is facing multiple investigations by the Department of Justice, including an antitrust review of Optum’s acquisition of doctor’s offices that was opened in February 2024. According to reports, investigators are looking into anticompetitive harms for patients and providers. A link to the survey is included here.
“My office has been hearing from folks across the Hudson Valley about a decline in care, especially at CareMount Medical and Crystal Run Healthcare, following their purchase by Optum. I’m launching this community inquiry to hear from as many folks as possible to directly inform my ongoing oversight,” said Congressman Ryan. “Whether it's inaccurate billing, new or increased fees, or difficulty getting appointments, it’s unacceptable for any corporation to be driving down quality and driving up costs. I’ll keep pushing to get to the bottom of this and ensure every Hudson Valley family gets the care they deserve.”
In 2022, Optum purchased CareMount Medical, a medical group with over 2,100 providers and 1.6 million patients in the tri-state area. In 2023, Optum further consolidated the market for physician services in the Hudson Valley with its acquisition of Crystal Run Healthcare, with about 400 providers. Patients across the Hudson Valley have reported that the shift to Optum has worsened the quality of their care and reduced access to medical providers in our area. This includes difficulty scheduling doctor’s appointments, inaccurate billing, unexplained fees, long wait times, and poor customer service. In addition, Optum employees have reported layoffs and chaotic, overburdened work schedules, leading to staff burnout.
Across the country, Optum has purchased doctor’s offices at an aggressive pace. It has become the largest employer of doctors, with one in ten physicians nationwide now under its control. Optum’s parent company, UnitedHealth Group, also owns the largest insurance company, one of the three largest Pharmacy Benefit Managers, and the largest medical claims manager. United has used this vast power to rip off patients and enrich its shareholders, with profits of $14 billion in 2024.
In the Hudson Valley, concerning reports have emerged that United may be paying its own Optum practices more in order to squeeze local competitors, as well as manipulating patients’ medical records in order to receive higher payments under the Medicare program. United is facing multiple investigations by the Department of Justice, including an antitrust review of Optum’s acquisition of doctor’s offices that was opened in February 2024. According to reports, investigators are looking into anticompetitive harms for patients and providers.
In response to these concerns, Congressman Ryan is launching a community inquiry to hear directly from constituents who receive care or work at Optum facilities in the Hudson Valley. This will inform Congressman Ryan’s work to lower health care costs and hold big corporations accountable. Constituents who would like to share their story should fill out our survey HERE.
Throughout his time in office, Congressman Ryan has always emphasized the importance of lowering costs, specifically when it comes to health care. He supports landmark legislation which has already lowered the prices of ten of the most common high-cost pharmaceuticals, fought to lower premiums for 20 million Americans receiving healthcare through the Affordable Care Act, and secured more than $2 million to expand services at Sun River Health in Beacon.
Congressman Ryan is a cosponsor of the Drug Price Transparency in Medicaid Act, which would prohibit PBMs from charging Medicaid more than they paid pharmacies for a drug. He also co-leads the Pharmacists Fight Back Act, comprehensive legislation to require adequate reimbursements to pharmacists, prohibit PBMs from steering patients to their own pharmacies, and eliminate PBM restrictions on patient choice. Large portions of these bills were set to be included in the December government funding legislation until they were removed at the last minute.
Congressman Ryan also recently reintroduced the Stopping Pharma’s Ripoffs and Drug Savings for All Act, as a part of his broader Affordability Agenda; the Congressman’s first legislation of the 119th Congress which aims to lower costs across the board. The Stopping Pharma’s Ripoffs Act would rein in Big Pharma’s current abuse of U.S. patent law, and make it easier to produce less-costly generic drug alternatives.
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