Emporia, Kan.-based Newman Regional Health will no longer be in network with Aetna Better Health, the health insurer's managed Medicaid product, according to The Emporia Gazette.
Three things to know:
1. Aetna Better Care is one of three managed care organizations that run the state's KanCare Medicaid program. Aetna replaced Amerigroup Kansas in the program last year and absorbed any enrollees who didn't choose another plan after Amerigroup's contract with the state ended Dec. 31.
2. Newman Regional CFO Holly French told The Emporia Gazette the hospital chose not to continue providing in-network services to Aetna Better Health members because of stalled negotiations.
"Ultimately, the decision factor with not contracting with Aetna Better Health came down to the fact that they just would not negotiate with us," Ms. French said. "We were able to get better terms [and] we had better terms already with UnitedHealthcare and Sunflower, and they just would not work with us on those terms. We elected not to contract."
3. KanCare has allowed members to change plans during a transition period, which means there won't be any coverage lapses during the first quarter of this year. Enrollees have until April 3 to enroll in a new plan for 2019 coverage, according to the report.
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