The contract, which will be in effect for two years, will allow UnitedHealthcare policyholders to continue using all UAB Health facilities and UAB providers at in-network prices. UAB and UnitedHealthcare said they will finalize the tentative agreement within two weeks.
The agreement comes after UAB Health CEO Will Ferniany, PhD, accused the health insurer of pursuing profits over patient care.
“I believe they are putting profit, their $9 billion company, over the good of the patients. We treat the patients. We see the patients, and this is doing a lot of harm to patients. We need to get this settled,” Dr. Ferniany told WBRC. “If you can make nine billion dollars, you shouldn’t make it on the backs of patients.”
In a statement to WBRC before the resolution, UnitedHealthcare disagreed: “Despite repeated efforts to reach a compromise, UAB has decided to put Alabama residents square in the middle of this dispute. This is unfortunate and completely avoidable,” a company spokesperson said.
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