UnitedHealth Group has announced the closure of its Optum Virtual Care telehealth business. The decision was made on April 18, with some employees being informed that their last day with the company will be in July. Despite this, the company remains committed to virtual care as an essential part of their integrated care delivery model and plans to continue offering patients a comprehensive network of providers for virtual urgent, primary, and specialty care options.
Optum Virtual Care provides round-the-clock care through virtual visits with board-certified physicians and nationally certified nurse practitioners. The service is accessible in all 50 states. Although telehealth usage declined in 2022 as more individuals returned to in-person doctor visits, the trend continues to fluctuate as healthcare needs evolve.
Amwell, another telehealth provider, also reported a decrease in telehealth usage in 2023 due to a milder flu season compared to the previous year. As the industry continues to adapt to changing healthcare needs, it’s likely that we’ll see further fluctuations in telehealth usage patterns emerge over time.
