UnitedHealth Group has announced the closure of its Optum Virtual Care telehealth business. Employees were informed about the shutdown on Thursday, with some being told that their last day would be in July. Despite this move, the company remains committed to providing virtual care as an integral part of their comprehensive care delivery model.
The decision to close Optum Virtual Care was made after a decline in telehealth usage was reported in 2022. PYMNTS Intelligence reported that consumer participation in telehealth had stabilized between 30% and 40%, with that percentage engaging in monthly telemedicine appointments. This decline was also observed by Amwell, another telehealth provider, with 1.6 million visits in the fourth quarter compared to 1.7 million in the same quarter in 2022. The decline was attributed to a milder flu season and the absence of the early and severe flu season from the previous year.
Optum Virtual Care offered round-the-clock care through virtual visits with board-certified physicians and nationally certified nurse practitioners in all 50 states. While this service may no longer be available, UnitedHealth Group remains committed to providing patients with a wide network of providers for virtual urgent, primary, and specialty care options. They will support affected team members with job placement resources and try to deploy them in open roles within the company.
