David Williams tells WCVB TV5 that it’s ok for Optum to buy Steward physician groups

Senators Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren didn’t want Optum to buy Steward’s physician group, citing antitrust concerns. But David Williams told WCVB5 (Mass. Sens. Warren, Markey push back against Steward, United proposal) that the Senators were looking at things the wrong way.

“It may be a desperation move for Steward, but it doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing for the commonwealth,” said health care expert David Williams.

Williams said the hospitals will be less attractive without the package deal of a doctors group included.

“The physicians are a feeder to the hospital. If I’m Steward – owning hospitals and physicians – I want those physicians to refer patients to the hospital where I can do expensive things to them,” he said.

That expensive care is why Williams said we should transition to more clinics and doctors' offices.

"We actually need to move care out of the hospital and into the community," he said. "It's probably better if we didn’t have as many hospitals."

Williams said Massachusetts already has a medical giant: Mass General Brigham.

"I actually think it may be a positive thing, so it's maybe two gorillas wrestling. Now the question is, should we have huge gorillas? That’s an open question, but I actually think this improves the power within Massachusetts," he said.