Some hospitals within the University of Alabama at Birmingham Health System may no longer be part of UnitedHealthcare's provider network, according to NBC affiliate WSFA 12 News.
Negotiations between UAB Health System and UnitedHealthcare have stalled ahead of a July 31 deadline. If the two groups don't reach an agreement before then, UnitedHealthcare members will lose in-network access to several UAB Health System hospitals and services. Only UAB's emergency departments will remain open to UnitedHealthcare members.
In a statement to WSFA 12 News, UAB Health System CEO Will Ferniany, PhD, said: "We regret that United Healthcare has put us into a position that causes anxiety for our patients, and we are working to reach a reasonable agreement through ongoing discussions. ... As the leading healthcare provider in Alabama that welcomes well over a million patient visits a year, we are dedicated to maintaining a sustainable business model in which our patients can access the care they need. We cannot allow United Healthcare's demands to force us into an agreement that weakens our ability to deliver care to those who count on us."
In response to the dispute, UnitedHealthcare told WSFA 12 News: "Our priority is to establish a long-term relationship with UAB that helps drive quality care, lower costs and an improved patient experience for the people we serve throughout Alabama. UAB is significantly more expensive than all other health systems across the state, yet it is seeking substantial rate increases and demanding that we restrict local businesses from designing healthcare benefit plans that incentivize their employees to choose quality, lower-cost care providers."
More articles on payers:
10 updates on UnitedHealth Group
16 payer exec moves in 2019
Christiana Care, Highmark Medicaid strike value-based partnership