Allina Health Moving 2,000 Staff To UnitedHealth-Owned Optum

Allina Health will transfer 2,000 IT and bill collection staff over to UnitedHealth Group-owned Optum as part of a 10-year "strategic relationship."

Staff were informed of the deal with Eden Prairie-based Optum at a meeting Thursday, with Allina claiming it will ensure its "resources are prioritized toward direct care of the community and continued excellence in its administrative support to caregivers and patients."

Impact are the Minneapolis company's IT and Revenue Cycle Management departments, the latter of which communicates with insurance companies and helps patients understand their medical bills.

The 2,000 staff will transfer to Optum in early May, though they will continue to work in their current location and will "maintain their respective roles in supporting Allina Health’s patients and providers."

The Star Tribune reports that the transfer won't result in any layoffs, with staff given "retention guarantees" that ensures their employment for an unspecified period of time.

The newspaper adds that the partnership is expected to deliver cost savings to the nonprofit health provider, with the company's statement saying it will, among other things, allow it to "streamline the billing experience for patients and providers."

"Health care is changing rapidly and the technological needs to support care delivery are increasingly complex," said David Ingham, DO, vice president and chief information officer for Allina Health.

"As we look to the future, we need to collaborate on solutions that will support and accelerate our care delivery expertise by bringing size and scale to innovation and technology. This new relationship with Optum brings the best of both organizations to the table in support of providers, patients and communities. We are grateful to be retaining the knowledge and talent of our team members who will still stay strongly connected to Allina Health."

SOURCE: Bring Me The News