The terminated contract could force the more than 24,000 United members who have visited Continuum facilities in the past year to find new hospitals and physicians for their care, according to the report.
Although New York mandates that in-network benefits must be extended for two months after the end of a contract, the two month extension does not apply to members of self-funded plans. Nearly half of the 24,000 members affected by the contract termination are in self-funded plans, according to the report.
United has said that it is working with Continuum to create care transition plans for its members who currently receive ongoing care at Continuum facilities.
Continuum called United’s termination unlawful in a letter to New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo’s office. However, the two groups are continuing negotiations.
Read Crain’s New York Business’s report on the Continuum and UnitedHealthcare contract termination.
