UnitedHealth Group plans to grow OptumCare, which includes Surgical Care Affiliates, from a $16 billion business into a $100 billion business, according to the Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal.
Optum Health is already a $100 billion business, but the company sees significant growth for its OptumCare division in the future. UnitedHealth CFO John Rex detailed the company’s plan at the Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference last week. Four things to know:
1. Mr. Rex envisions OptumCare hitting $100 billion in revenue by 2028 by serving more patients with Medicare Advantage plans, as well as other elderly patients. The company currently reports $19 in revenue per customer per month, but Medicare Advantage members at full risk could amount to $900 to $1,000 of revenue per month, according to Mr. Rex.
2. OptumCare plans to purchase more surgery centers, primary care and urgent care practices. The additional ASCs would become part of Surgical Care Affiliates, which OptumCare acquired in 2017 for $2.3 billion.
3. Last year, UnitedHealth began the process of acquiring DaVita’s medical group in a $4 billion deal. The final sale will add around 300 clinics and around six surgery centers.
4. The company aims to grow geographically with more outpatient services centers and medical groups, but it will intentionally shy away from the inpatient setting. UnitedHealth's CEO David Wichmann said explicitly that OptumCare doesn't plan to purchase hospitals or post-acute care settings, but it may align with health systems.