Democratic lawmakers are calling for aggressive measures to rein in UnitedHealth Group’s growing market power, including a possible breakup of a business empire that they say undermines competition, corrupts Medicare and harms vulnerable patients.

Lawmakers, including several U.S. senators, say the problems created by the company’s size and scope require immediate action to restore public confidence in the health care system. They condemned the targeted killing of Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealth’s insurance division. But they said the display of resentment and anger that followed was neither new nor surprising at a time when people feel powerless to defend themselves against a company that controls their doctors, their data and their insurance policies .

“By buying up every part of our health care system – from the nation’s largest insurer to the largest physician network and everything in between – UnitedHealth Group has successfully bypassed competition and funneled billions of dollars into its own subsidiaries,” he said. said Senator Elizabeth. Warren (D-Mass.) told STAT in a statement. “In the interests of patients, taxpayers, and independent practices, policymakers should act to prohibit co-ownership by health insurers and their provider subsidiaries, including physicians and pharmacies. »

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