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Optum Health Shuts 23 New Jersey Clinics, Leaving Patients in a Health Care Void

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  Published in Health and Fitness on Friday, November 7th 2025 at 9:32 GMT by Patch
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Patients Scramble as Optum Health Closes Dozens of Doctors’ Offices Across New Jersey

The latest wave of healthcare consolidation has hit New Jersey hard, as Optum Health announced the abrupt shutdown of 23 primary‑care clinics throughout the state. The closures, effective June 15 2024, are part of a broader strategy to streamline services and shift more care to virtual platforms. Residents in Ridgewood, Hackensack, Paterson, and the Jersey Shore now face longer commutes, unfamiliar doctors, and the uncertainty that comes with losing a trusted local provider.

What the Closures Mean for Patients

Optum’s decision comes after a comprehensive audit of its outpatient network. The company cited declining patient volumes, increased overhead costs, and the growing competitiveness of telehealth as key drivers. In an official statement, Optum Health’s chief operating officer, Dr. Lisa McKenna, said, “We are realigning our resources to better serve patients who prefer remote care while maintaining high‑quality in‑person services at select hubs.”

For many New Jersey families, the impact is immediate. Maria Alvarez, a Ridgewood resident who has been a patient at the local Optum clinic for 12 years, found out about the shutdown through an automated text message sent a week before the scheduled closure. “I had been seeing Dr. Patel for my daughter’s asthma and for my own hypertension,” she explained. “Now I’m told I’ll have to go to the nearest hospital or find a new doctor entirely. It feels like losing a friend.”

Patients are required to register with a new primary‑care network within the Optum system or seek care elsewhere. Optum Health is offering a transitional program that includes:

• Personalized referral assistance: The company’s patient navigation team will help patients find new primary‑care physicians within the region.
• Coverage continuity: For patients on Optum’s managed care plans, coverage will transfer automatically to the new provider, though patients must be notified of any changes in copay or deductible structures.
• Extended telehealth access: Patients who had previously used Optum’s in‑person services can now access virtual appointments with the same physicians, provided they meet the eligibility criteria.

The closures also affect specialty care. The Ridgewood clinic housed an internal medicine practice, a pediatrician, and a behavioral health therapist. All three specialties will now be redirected to the larger Hackensack Meridian health system, which has announced a partnership with Optum to absorb the displaced patients.

The Human Cost

The ripple effect of these closures extends beyond patients to staff and the local economy. About 230 employees, ranging from medical assistants to administrative staff, are affected. Optum Health offered severance packages and outplacement services, but many worry about the job market in a state that has already seen a 5 % rise in healthcare layoffs over the past year.

“After 18 years of working here, I don’t know what my next step will be,” said Angela Chen, a registered nurse who has spent her career at the Ridgewood clinic. “The notice came just a month before the closure, and I’m told I’m free to apply to other jobs in the network. That’s a lot of uncertainty for a family that depends on a steady income.”

Beyond personnel, the closures threaten local businesses that benefit from patients’ daily visits. Small pharmacies, dental practices, and grocery stores near the clinics have reported a noticeable decline in foot traffic. Local economic development officials are monitoring the situation closely.

Community Response and Advocacy

The Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce held an emergency meeting on June 10 to discuss potential relief measures. “We’re in a bind,” said Chamber President Kevin O’Neill. “If we can’t find alternative healthcare options quickly, our town’s reputation as a healthy, livable place will suffer.”

Patient advocacy groups have also weighed in. The New Jersey Patient Advocacy Group (NJ PAG) released a statement urging the state’s Department of Health to intervene. “Optum’s unilateral decision disrupts patient continuity and erodes trust in the healthcare system,” wrote PAG spokesperson Maria Torres. The group is calling for a public hearing on the closures and for a mandate that requires providers to offer an exit strategy for patients when shutting down.

The New Jersey Department of Health’s website (https://www.nj.gov/health/) lists resources for patients who lose coverage or primary‑care providers, including state-funded medical assistance programs and a hotline that connects patients to local health services. Officials say the department is reviewing Optum’s closure plan to ensure compliance with state regulations on patient rights.

What’s Next for Optum Health

Optum Health’s broader strategy involves expanding its virtual care platform, called Optum Connect, which has reportedly already attracted 120,000 new patients in the first quarter of 2024. The company’s president, Dr. Michael Rojas, stated that the closures are a “necessary step” toward a more integrated, technology‑driven model of care. He added that the firm plans to open three new hybrid clinics in underserved areas within the next two years, which will combine telehealth services with limited in‑person visits.

However, critics point out that the reduction in physical clinics may widen disparities in access, particularly for seniors and low‑income populations who are less comfortable with telehealth technologies. A recent study published in the Journal of Community Health found that telehealth adoption in New Jersey is 30 % lower among households earning below $40,000 annually.

Bottom Line

The closures of 23 Optum Health clinics in New Jersey represent more than just a business decision; they signal a shifting landscape in which digital care is becoming the default. For patients in Ridgewood and across the state, the scramble to find new providers highlights the delicate balance between innovation and continuity. As the state’s health officials and patient advocates push for safeguards, the next months will determine whether the move to virtual care can coexist with the need for reliable, personal, and accessible in‑person medical services.