Some of the largest health insurers are capitalizing on recent massive deals by steering patients toward clinics they now own, controlling both delivery and payment for health care. The trend creates worries for rival doctor groups and hospital companies that have invested deeply in buying up physician practices, which now increasingly compete against offerings from insurers. UnitedHealth Group Inc.’s insurance unit is offering a plan in the Los Angeles area built around doctors who work for its Optum arm, which has acquired a sprawling network of doctor practices, surgery centers and urgent-care clinics. The company says it is working to offer similar designs in other markets, though they might also involve non-Optum doctors.
Read the full article: Physicians, Hospitals Meet Their New Competitor: Insurer-Owned Clinics //
Source: https://www.wsj.com/articles/physicians-hospitals-meet-their-new-competitor-insurer-owned-clinics-11582473600