Health Industry Lawmakers Press FTC To Examine Optum's Acquisition Of Steward Meanwhile, USC and Emory University's credit ratings are threatened by struggling hospital systems. Also: a widening gap between city, country mortality in Arizona; a security review of Zuckerberg General Hospital in San Francisco; more. Modern Healthcare: Steward-Optum Deal Should Be Scrutinized By FTC: Warren, Markey Federal lawmakers, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) and Edward Markey (D-Mass), urged the Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department to heavily scrutinize UnitedHealth Group subsidiary Optum's proposed acquisition of Steward Health Care's physician group and block the deal if it gives UnitedHealth Group too much market power. ... Warren, Markey and others raised concerns the deal would reduce competition in the area and give UnitedHealth Group more of a monopoly in Massachusetts and other states.