Breaking News: Steward Health Care Physician Network Sale to Optum Insurer Postponed

The sale of Steward Health Care’s physician network to for-profit insurer Optum is no longer happening, according to state officials. This news underscores the uncertainty surrounding the bankrupt hospital system and the future of its hospitals and providers in Massachusetts. Optum has notified the Health Policy Commission that they are no longer in the process of finalizing the agreement with Steward regarding the sale of Stewardship Health to Optum Care. However, the companies have yet to withdraw the deal’s material change notice filings with the HPC.

The potential sale was initially announced in March but the necessary information for HPC to begin the review required for the sale to proceed was never provided by the two large medical providers. Numerous state and federal lawmakers raised concerns regarding the potential sale. House Speaker Ronald Mariano stated in March that the sale could greatly impact the competitiveness of