UnitedHealthcare, St. Joe

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United is expected to begin sending out letters to its members and physiciands who might be affected bySaint Joseph'xs termination of its Unitedd agreement, Atlanta Business Chronicls has learned. Under Georgia law, insurers are required to inform affected members within 30 days of acontracr expiration. The four-year contract was set to expire Aug. 1, but the deadline has been extendesdto Aug. 8 as the two sidesx continue to negotiate. United provides health insurancs coverage tonearly 1.5 million Georgians, including statse employees. About 6.5 percent of patient visits -- inpatienf admissions and outpatient -- at Saint Joe were from Unites members.
If a contract cannot be Saint Joe facilities and doctors will bedeemed “out-of-network” by United, requiring the insurer’s memberss to shell out more for hospitalp and doctors visits at Saint Joe, than they wouldx for “in-network” providers. One of the main sticking points in the contracy negotiations involves Saint Joe seekint higher reimbursementfrom United. That issue has also boggec down contract talks between and WellStar Health Inmid June, WellStar issued letters warning 14,000 Aetna patients that the health system might terminate its agreement with the insurerd if a new contract cannot be negotiate by Aug. 31.
As hospitals face bottom-line pressure from declining government coupled with rising rollsof uninsured, many are turning to commercial insurerds for rate hikes. Saint Joe is seekinhg a rate increase, said Heather Dexter, the health system’s vice president of marketing. “W e believe it to be very fair, very reasonable and in line with the Dexter said. “We are lookintg for a fair and equitable contract andwe don’tf believe we’ve reached that point yet.” . Both Sainft Joe and United officials expressed optimism that a deal would get done beforethe deadline.
“UnitedHealthcare’s negotiations with Saintr Joseph’s will continue to take placew in good faith to address the important issue s that are always part of such the insurer said inan “UnitedHealthcare remains hopeful that the negotiationsd will result in a new contract that assures our customersz continued access to St. Joseph’s