How long should NGHS and UnitedHealthcare renew the expiring contract [The Times, Gainesville, Ga.] – InsuranceNewsNet

October 21—Contract talks are underway between Northeast Georgia Health System and one of its main insurers, UnitedHealthcare.

The parties “hope to reach an agreement that protects network access for patients and fair compensation for care provided by the NGHS,” an NGHS press release said.

The contract, which expires April 30, 2023covers care at all NGHS facilities, including all Northeast Georgia Medical Center hospitals, Northeast Georgia Physician Group practices, emergency care locations, Georgia Heart Institute locations, Laurelwood, long-term care facilities and other ambulatory care facilities.

“It is important to emphasize that nothing changes now, and people covered by the UnitedHealthcare plan should continue to see their NGHS providers and receive care as usual,” said Steve McNeillyChief Operating Officer of NGHS Population Health and Vice President of Managed Care.

“We just want to be transparent with our community – especially because it’s open registration season for many – so people have all the information available to make the best decisions for themselves and their families. We will keep our patients informed as negotiations progress.”

NGHS also sent letters to patients with UnitedHealthcare.

UnitedHealthcare said it viewed the NGHS announcement as putting “our members in the middle of our negotiations” and “creating unnecessary anxiety for them and their families.”

“We are in the early stages of our negotiations and are engaged in routine contractual discussions with the aim of securing long-term access to the NGHS for our members,” according to a statement from the company. “We are asking the NGHS to work with us on a new affordable deal to Georgia residents and employers. »

The NGHS says contract negotiations between insurance companies and providers ‘are very common’ and talks with UHC began earlier this year ‘to allow sufficient time to reach agreement and avoid disruptions useless”.

“It is essential that health systems have collaborative partnerships with health insurance companies like United in order to continue to provide high-quality care to patients,” the press release said.

It is also possible that the talks could break down and the two sides reach an impasse, like what happened between the NGHS and Anthem in September 2019.

In this case, Northeast Georgia Health System continued to treat patients with Anthem insurance as if they were in the network until December 31, 2019. An agreement was finally reached in January 2020.

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