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

Optum is considering selling certain specialty practices affiliated with Optum Medical Care and Crystal Run Healthcare to other large New York health systems. That includes orthopedics, general surgery, and urology, among other specialties.

An Optum spokesperson said that they’ve signed or are negotiating letters of intent with some health systems with the goal of closing sales or completing agreements by the end of 2026 but did not specify which healthcare systems.

“We will maintain a strong presence across New York and continue to take care of the community in a number of primary care and specialty practices. Service lines we will keep remain focused on our core work of primary care, pediatrics and medical specialties in ambulatory settings,” said the Optum spokesperson.

But some Crystal Run workers are worried about what a potential sale could mean for patient and worker care. Optum acquired Crystal Run Health in 2023.

“[Workers] are pretty nervous about what’s gonna happen because they don’t know if they’re gonna be sold off with the doctors. They don’t know if they’re gonna be going with them,” said Krystal Shorette, 1199SEIU union organizer for the Hudson Valley region.

The news of the sale comes as Optum healthcare workers have been pushing for a stronger union contract, including safer staffing and better healthcare benefits. Optum workers picketed across the Hudson Valley at several health facilities in late June, pushing for better working conditions and patient safety standards.

“Workers are saying in general that they are completely short-staffed. They’ll do layoffs in one area on one particular title, and then they will put that workload on another title or another individual,” said Shorette.

Both local healthcare workers, residents, and local officials have raised concerns about the future of Optum’s services in the Hudson Valley region. On July 1, Crystal Run Healthcare closed its OB-GYN practice at its Rock Hill location in Sullivan County after it announced in May that the closure would support integrated care.

READ: Crystal Run Abruptly Closes OB-GYN Clinic, Leaving Just 1 OB-GYN in Sullivan County

Crystal Run serves more than 350,000 patients across New York’s Hudson Valley and Lower Catskill regions.

Image: Optum workers picket outside Optum health facilities in June 2026 (Photo Credit: 1199SEIU in Westchester, Hudson Valley, Capital Region)