The state Attorney General's Office and the state Department of Health told WBUR they lack the ability to approve or veto any deal, adding to questions about whether funds from a sale would be directed to help the financially troubled Steward's Massachusetts hospitals.
State officials are promising strict oversight of any deal involving the sale of Steward Health Care's physician network. But the state's authority over the proposed deal with a UnitedHealth Group subsidiary appears to be limited.
A Steward spokesperson declined to comment on the proposed sale to Optum, and neither company has disclosed terms of deal. "My office will be reviewing this proposed transaction to ensure that it adequately protects public access to competitive affordable healthcare options," Campbell said in an emailed statement."We hope that its proceeds are directed toward supporting the operations of Steward's in-state hospitals until they can be transitioned to new operators."
Some state officials and health care experts have expressed concerns that the growth of for-profit companies in health care is not in the best interest of patients. House Speaker Ron Mariano urged the commission to carefully examine the deal and said other state and federal agencies should scrutinize it as well. He noted Optum's parent company, UnitedHealth Group, is already the subject of a
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