The article from STAT News, authored by Bob Herman, discusses the significant expansion of UnitedHealth Group’s physician network. UnitedHealth Group now has around 90,000 employed or affiliated doctors, which constitutes approximately 10% of all physicians in the U.S. This expansion includes the acquisition or hiring of 20,000 doctors in the past year alone. Amar Desai, the CEO of UnitedHealth’s Optum Health division, revealed these figures during the company’s investor day.
The rapid growth of UnitedHealth’s physician base highlights the company’s strategy to gain more control over the health care delivery system. This development is particularly noteworthy as UnitedHealth is already the largest private health insurer in the country. The article raises concerns about the unchecked growth of the company’s physician network, particularly in the context of antitrust regulations.