Is HealthCare Partners the same company as Optum?

Editorial team Published on

Yes, HealthCare Partners is now part of Optum, operating under the Optum Care Network.

đź“Ś Corporate History

  • Acquisition: Optum acquired DaVita Medical Group, which owned HealthCare Partners.
  • Rebranding: HealthCare Partners transitioned its operations and branding directly into the Optum network.
  • Parent Company: Both entities fall under UnitedHealth Group.

Did Optum acquire HealthCare partners?

Yes, Optum acquired HealthCare Partners in June 2019 as part of its $4.3 billion purchase of DaVita Medical Group.

Key Details of the Acquisition

  • The Deal: Optum (a division of UnitedHealth Group) completed the acquisition of DaVita Medical Group on June 19, 2019.
  • HealthCare Partners Connection: DaVita had previously acquired HealthCare Partners in 2012, meaning HealthCare Partners was included in the sale to Optum and integrated into the OptumCare network.
  • The Nevada Exception: To satisfy Federal Trade Commission (FTC) antitrust concerns in Las Vegas, Optum was required to divest HealthCare Partners Nevada, which was instead acquired by Intermountain Healthcare.
  • Southern California Operations: HealthCare Partners operations and networks in Southern California transitioned under the Optum umbrella.

Who is HealthPartners owned by?

HealthPartners is not owned by any private company or individual, as it is a consumer-governed, non-profit health care organization and health plan.

Governance and Structure

  • Non-Profit Status: It operates as a non-profit integrated health system.
  • Board of Directors: It is governed by a board of directors made up of its own members, patients, and community representatives.
  • Leadership: The organization is led by President and CEO Andrea Walsh.

Why are all the doctors leaving Optum?

Doctors are leaving or being cut from Optum because parent company UnitedHealth Group is shifting away from a massive affiliated network to focus on a smaller, directly employed or value-based model, alongside widespread clinic closures and corporate restructuring.

Strategic and Financial Shifts

  • Shrinking the Network: Optum's leadership noted that the company aimed to reduce its affiliated provider network significantly (cutting around 20% in recent cycles) to tighten focus on core value-based care business models rather than maintaining oversized, unaligned provider pools.
  • Mass Closures and Layoffs: Optum has abruptly closed dozens of medical offices and clinics across various states—such as major shutdowns in New Jersey and Indiana—disrupting operations, displacing hundreds of staff, and forcing physicians out or into other networks.

Provider Dissatisfaction and Corporate Pressure

  • Administrative and Business Practices: Many independent physicians who joined Optum-acquired groups (like Oregon Medical Group or practices in the Hudson Valley) have faced growing dissatisfaction due to non-transparent contracting, billing issues, increased administrative burdens, and rigid corporate oversight.
  • Regulatory Scrutiny: Optum and parent company UnitedHealth Group face intense federal and state scrutiny, including Department of Justice (DOJ) antitrust investigations and inquiries by local lawmakers over corporate healthcare consolidation, network reductions, and dropped insurance plans.

What companies are affiliated with Optum?

Optum is a major subsidiary and health services organization owned by UnitedHealth Group, which also owns UnitedHealthcare.

Core Divisions of Optum

  • Optum Health: Delivers patient-centered, value-based medical care, managing extensive physician networks and clinics.
  • Optum Rx: Provides pharmacy care services and prescription medication benefits.
  • Optum Insight: Offers software, analytics, and consulting for healthcare administration and clinical processes.
  • Optum Financial: Manages health savings accounts (HSAs) and financial resources.
  • Optum Serve: Delivers health solutions and services tailored to federal government and military needs.

Major Acquired Companies & Medical Groups

Optum operates numerous acquired medical practices, healthcare providers, and technology firms across the United States, including:

  • MedExpress: Urgent care center operator.
  • Surgical Care Affiliates (SCA Health): Ambulatory surgery center network.
  • DaVita Medical Group: Physician group and clinic network.
  • Change Healthcare: Healthcare technology and data services.
  • LHC Group & Amedisys: Home health and hospice care providers.
  • Refresh Mental Health: Outpatient behavioral health network.
  • Kelsey-Seybold Clinic: Multispecialty medical group in Houston.
  • Crystal Run Healthcare: Multispecialty physician group in New York.
  • Atrius Health: Medical group in Massachusetts.
  • The Advisory Board Company: Health care consulting and research arm.

Meet our Healthcare Partners

9 related questions found

Are healthcare partners part of Optum?

Yes, HealthCare Partners is part of Optum.

Details of the Transition

  • Acquisition: Optum acquired DaVita Medical Group, which owned HealthCare Partners, making it part of the OptumCare division.
  • Name and Branding: Many regional branches of HealthCare Partners IPA transitioned to operate directly under the Optum network and branding (such as Optum Care Network).
  • Operations: The medical groups, local clinics, and provider networks continue to deliver localized patient care as part of Optum's nationwide care delivery organization.

Do doctors like working for Optum?

Many doctors report mixed to negative experiences working for Optum, citing heavy workloads, administrative pressure, and corporate micromanagement. While some positions offer stability and predictable hours, overall satisfaction scores on employee review platforms tend to be low.

The Positives

  • Predictable Schedules: Many primary care roles feature standard Monday-to-Friday hours with no overnight call duties.
  • Competitive Base Pay: Starting salaries typically range from $220,000 to $384,000 per year depending on geography and specialty.
  • Standard Benefits: Large corporate backing provides standard health plans and 401(k) matching, especially for legacy employees.

The Negatives

  • Heavy Workloads: Doctors frequently report overbooked schedules, shortened appointment times, and an overwhelming volume of digital inbox tasks.
  • Strict Metrics: Physicians often feel pressured to meet rigid productivity metrics and Relative Value Units (RVUs), which can deprioritize patient care quality.
  • Acquisition Friction: Providers in independent practices bought by Optum often experience reduced benefits, less paid time off, and harder-to-reach performance bonuses.
  • A discussion on the White Coat Investor forum highlights that acquired practices may see stagnant long-term pay raises alongside increased administrative oversight.

Is HealthPartners in financial trouble?

HealthPartners is not in acute financial trouble, and its financial outlook has stabilized following recent operational adjustments and credit rating upgrades.

Credit Rating and Outlook

  • Stable Outlook: S&P Global Ratings revised HealthPartners' outlook from negative to stable and affirmed its 'A' financial strength rating.
  • Reserves: The organization maintains adequate cash reserves supported by strong investment income and careful management of spending.

Recent Financial Pressures

  • 2024 Losses: HealthPartners reported an operating loss of about $200 million in 2024 due to high medical costs in its health insurance division.
  • Cost Controls: To address these losses, the system repriced commercial insurance plans, adjusted Medicare Advantage strategies, and exited select Medicaid programs with high costs.

Strategic Growth

  • Merger Plans: HealthPartners announced an agreement to combine with Essentia Health to help offset rising industry-wide operational costs and workforce pressures.

Which is better, Blue Plus or HealthPartners?

Neither Blue Plus (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota) nor HealthPartners is universally better; the right choice depends on your specific doctors, preferred hospital systems, and budget.

Blue Plus Strengths

  • Broader PPO Flexibility: It offers PPO network options, which provide broader out-of-network flexibility and national coverage for travel.
  • Specialist Access: Often a strong choice if you need access to specific regional health systems or pediatric care like Children’s Minnesota.
  • Deductibles: Some plans feature lower deductibles, meaning insurance helps pay for your care sooner in a high-use medical year.

HealthPartners Strengths

  • Integrated Care Model: It functions as both an insurer and a provider with its own dedicated hospitals and clinics, making care coordination seamless.
  • No Specialist Referrals: It typically does not require a primary care physician referral to see a specialist.
  • Lower Premiums: It frequently offers lower monthly premiums on Silver-tier plans compared to competitors.

What did HealthPartners change their name to?

HealthPartners has not changed its name, though it announced a pending combination with Essentia Health where the combined organization will keep the HealthPartners name.

(Note: If you are instead thinking of Health Partners Plans—a separate managed care organization in Pennsylvania—it rebranded and changed its name to Jefferson Health Plans).