Patients Over Profits Act Introduced to Prevent Billionaire Health Care Corporations from Buying Up Clinics

Strategic Insights -

Representatives in the US Congress, including Val Hoyle (OR-04), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass), Pat Ryan (NY-18), and Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), have introduced legislation to prevent large insurance companies and their subsidiaries from buying up independently owned clinics. The Patients Over Profits Act aims to halt the out-of-control consolidations in the health care sector, which have jeopardized patients' access to care nationwide. UnitedHealth Group, with its subsidiary Optum, has been particularly aggressive in this regard, gobbling up dozens of clinics in Oregon, New York, and Washington.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Patients Over Profits Act seeks to prevent large insurance companies and their subsidiaries from buying up independently owned clinics.
  • The bill aims to halt out-of-control consolidations in the health care sector, which have jeopardized patients' access to care nationwide.
  • UnitedHealth Group, with its subsidiary Optum, has been accused of aggressively buying up clinics, leading to a loss of physicians and services for thousands of patients.
  • The Act is supported by various organizations, including the American Economic Liberties Project, the Center for Health and Democracy, and Public Citizen.
  • The Patients Over Profits Act has been cosponsored by U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14).
  • According to the Center for Health & Democracy's Sunlight Report, UnitedHealth employs or contracts with over 90,000 doctors, roughly 10 percent of the U.S. physician workforce, and owns over 750 clinical subsidiaries nationwide.

Statistics:

  • UnitedHealth employs or contracts with over 90,000 doctors, roughly 10 percent of the U.S. physician workforce.
  • UnitedHealth owns over 750 clinical subsidiaries nationwide.
  • Consolidation in the health care sector has led to a loss of physicians and services for thousands of patients.

Sources:

  • US Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04) - "Patients Over Profits Act introduced to prevent billionaire health care corporations from buying up clinics"
  • Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore) - "Statement on Patients Over Profits Act"
  • Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) - "Statement on Patients Over Profits Act"
  • Congressman Pat Ryan (NY-18) - "Statement on Patients Over Profits Act"
  • Congressman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) - "Statement on Patients Over Profits Act"
  • Center for Health & Democracy's Sunlight Report on UnitedHealth Group - "Sunlight Report: The Consolidation of Health Care in the United States"
  • American Economic Liberties Project - "Statement on Patients Over Profits Act"
  • Center for Health and Democracy - "Statement on Patients Over Profits Act"
  • Public Citizen - "Statement on Patients Over Profits Act"