As Optum Eyes Sale of Specialty Practices, Workers Worry About Future of Patient and Worker Care

Optum Health has announced it’s considering selling certain specialty practices affiliated with Optum Medical Care and Crystal Run Health to other large New York health systems. That includes orthopedics, general surgery, and urology, among others.A spokesperson for Optum Health said that they’ve signed or are negotiating letters of intent with some health systems – with the goal of closing sales by the end of 2026.But some Crystal Run Healthcare workers are worried about what this means for patient and worker care. Crystal Run workers, meanwhile, have been pushing for a stronger contract, including safer staffing and better healthcare benefits.Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke with Anna Oman and Krystal Shorette with healthcare union 1199SEIU about the possible sale and what Optum workers are calling for.