UMass Memorial to partner with PT provider

UMass Memorial Health Care and ATI Physical Therapy are pursuing a joint venture to provide physical therapy services in the region.

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By Emily Micucci

UMass Memorial Health Care and national physical therapy services provider ATI Physical Therapy are pursuing a joint-venture to provide outpatient physical therapy services to patients in Central Massachusetts.

The two organizations have filed plans with the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission (HPC), which will conduct a preliminary review to examine the potential impacts the deal would have on healthcare costs, quality and access.

An email statement from UMass Memorial spokesman Anthony Berry said plans for the partnerships are still preliminary, but that the organizations are hopeful they can provide better access to physical therapy by working together.

Berry said UMass Memorial, the region’s largest healthcare provider, has pursued a number of partnerships with other providers as part of its overall service strategy. He specifically cited the organization’s urgent care partnership with CareWell Urgent Care, which affiliated with UMass Memorial to open four urgent care centers in and around Worcester.

“We hope to have similar success with physical therapy services, an important service in helping our patients maintain healthy and active lives. Our partner for this proposed venture, ATI Physical Therapy, is a proven developer and operator of physical therapy clinics across the United States,” Berry said.

Matt Kitsos, spokesman for the HPC, said in an email that the the agency will conduct an initial 30-day review of the plans to gauge whether they’ll impact the health care market. If so, a full market impact review will be conducted.