Optum to acquire Massachusetts-based physician group Atrius Health
By acquiring Atrius, Optum is expanding its footprint in Massachusetts as it works towards growing its physician network.
Photo by UnitedHealth Group
UnitedHealth's information and technology-enabled health services subsidiary Optum is set to acquire Massachusetts-based Atrius Health, according to The Boston Globe.
Atrius Health confirmed the deal in a statement shared with Healthcare Finance News.
The nonprofit physician group operates 30 medical practices that offer primary care, more than 50 specialties, plus imaging, lab, and pharmacy services to the Boston area.
The terms of the deal were not disclosed, and it still must get regulatory approval from Massachusetts' Health Policy Commission, the Department of Public Health and the Federal Trade Commission.
WHY THIS MATTERS
By acquiring Atrius, Optum is expanding its footprint in Massachusetts as it works towards growing its physician network.
Optum hopes to add at least 10,000 physicians during 2021, UnitedHealth Group CEO David Wichmann said during the company's fourth-quarter 2020 earnings call. It currently operates 1,400 clinics with more than 50,000 physicians.
If the deal goes through, Optum will add 715 physicians from Atrius.
THE LARGER TREND
Back in 2018, OptumCare acquired another Massachusetts-based provider organization, Reliant Medical Group. With this transaction, Optum gained 25 locations and more than 500 providers.
More recently, Optum bought up fellow technology and service company Change Healthcare. The agreement is expected to close in the second half of 2021, and Change will join with OptumInsight to provide software and data analytics, technology-enabled services and research, advisory and revenue cycle management offerings.
ON THE RECORD
"Atrius Health is excited to build on our decades-long commitment in supporting our patients with high-quality care by joining Optum, positioning us to do even more to better serve patients and keep people healthy," Dr. Steve Strongwater, president and CEO of Atrius Health, said in a statement.
"If approved, Atrius Health will remain committed to its same mission, vision, and values for patient care and continue to care for patients through multiple insurance plans."
Twitter: @HackettMallory
Email the writer: mhackett@himss.org
