In October, after 18 months in the news cycle, Optum closed its controversial acquisition of Change Healthcare.  While the healthcare industry intensely watched the merger beat a challenge from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) on antitrust grounds, that  news story was far from the only newsworthy acquisition that Optum has made.  With far less public discourse than the Change Healthcare acquisition, Optum has made 18 acquisitions and six investments in recent years. The company has spent more than $30 billion on acquisitions in multiple sectors. 

Simply stated, Optum is embedded in every nook and cranny of healthcare and is the keeper of big data and analytics for employers, health plans, state and federal agencies and providers. So the question remains: Too big to fail? Reporting our lead story during the next live edition of Monitor Mondays will be Jerilyn Morrissey, MD, senior vice president of clinical and regulator affairs for Versalus Health.

Other segments will include these instantly recognizable broadcast features:

• Monday Rounds: Ronald Hirsch, MD, vice president of R1 RCM, will be making his Monday Rounds during time he will unveil his noteworthy 2022 “Hirsch’s Heroes,” which debuted here on Monitor Monday in 2016.  Hirsch’s Heroes recognizes healthcare professionals who made a difference in healthcare. The awards are returning this year after a two year hiatus during which every front line health care worker was a hero. 
• The RAC Report: Healthcare attorney Knicole Emanuel, partner at the law firm of Practus, will report the latest news about auditors.
• Risky Business: Healthcare attorney David Glaser, shareholder in the law offices of Fredrikson & Bryon, will join the broadcast with his trademark segment.
• SDoH Report: Tiffany Ferguson, a subject-matter expert on the social determinants of health (SDoH), will report on the news that’s happening at the intersection of healthcare regulations and the SDoH.
• Legislative Update: Adam Brenman, a federal legislative analyst for Zelis, will report on current healthcare legislation.