In the spring of 2022, Katonah resident Rachel Krause experienced one of the most traumatic events a human can endure: her baby Ophelia Banklian Newbold had died. A stillbirth.
But Krause could not have imagined the painful health care journey still to come.
Optum, a UnitedHealth subsidiary, had recently acquired CareMount, our previously independent medical group – the former Mount Kisco Medical Group – where Krause had been a longtime patient.
Facing a series of health challenges in the aftermath of the stillbirth, Krause asked Optum for her medical records. Yet for some mysterious reason, the medical group was refusing. In fact, after a long struggle, the company instead sent her records she hadn’t even requested.
Krause did not relent. And the company apparently did not appreciate her insistence.
While grieving the loss of her baby daughter Ophelia, and dealing with a complex medical situation, Katonah’s Rachel Krause endured more trauma when her local medical group banned her and her husband Sam Newbold from receiving further medical treatment.
Despite the fact that she was still navigating a complex medical situation, riddled with health risks, and despite the fact that specialists are hard to find, the company told her to go find new physicians somewhere else immediately, even banning her from urgent care.
“We recommend that you promptly find other doctors to care for you,” an Oct. 4, 2022 letter asserted, discharging the local resident from care.
In fact, for good measure, the company also banned her husband, Sam Newbold, sending him a letter by certified mail on the same day.
“We regret to inform you that Optum Medical Care, P.C., formerly known as CareMount Medical, P.C., including all Urgent Care facilities, Radiology and Laboratory services, will no longer be able to provide you with healthcare services as of October 11, 2022,” the letter stated. “This will apply to all physicians in all offices and all services at the Group.”
In April of 2023, The Examiner published a column about the area couple’s experience. Today, with our Sick Care podcast, in collaboration with production companies No Smiling and Little Everywhere, we bring you an audio followup, with new details about the alarming local encounter with corporate medicine.
Listen to the latest episode of Sick Care right here
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