State health officials will discuss the proposed sale of Steward Health Care’s physician network in Massachusetts to OptumCare, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, at a meeting on Thursday. The sale has faced criticism from Sen. Elizabeth Warren and House Speaker Ron Mariano.
Governor Maura Healey has described Steward Health Care as a “house of cards and a charade,” criticizing the for-profit healthcare system that is one of the state’s largest employers. The company is facing financial difficulties that could jeopardize multiple hospitals in Massachusetts.
The Health Policy Commission meeting on Thursday will also address the establishment of a 2025 healthcare cost growth benchmark. State health officials received notifications last month about the proposed sale of Stewardship Health Inc., which is the parent company of Stewardship Health Medical Group Inc., to OptumCare. This proposal has raised concerns among critics who fear that for-profit healthcare companies may put profits over patient care.
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