Tucson, Ariz.-based Northwest Healthcare reached a network agreement with Minnetonka, Minn.-based insurer UnitedHealthcare.
The three-year agreement, which takes effect immediately, is retroactive to May 1, when the previous contract expired. Without an agreement, more than 40,000 patients in southern Arizona would have lost in-network coverage for Northwest's services, reports The Express.
"We value our relationship with UnitedHealthcare and are grateful for their efforts to reach an agreement," Kevin Stockton, market CEO of Northwest Healthcare, said in a joint news release. "Our objective with this agreement was to ensure patients can access healthcare services when and where they need them. We also worked to help keep their out-of-pocket costs down."
Dave Allazetta, CEO of UnitedHealthcare of Arizona, expressed similar sentiments, saying: "We appreciate the commitment Northwest Healthcare has made to value-based healthcare and look forward to working with them to ensure our members receive high quality care as a result of this agreement."
The agreement follows a contract impasse between Northwest, an affiliate of Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems, and UnitedHealthcare. The dispute centered on payment and reimbursement rates, among other issues.