HARTFORD, Connecticut (WFSB) – The agreement between UnitedHealthcare and Hartford Healthcare is expected to expire late at night on Monday, March 31st. This means that thousands of people can lose in-network access to doctors.
Connecticut healthcare advocates, or OHA, say the ongoing contract battle has resulted in a 10% increase in calls.
“What do I do? How can I navigate this?” said healthcare advocate Kathy Holt. “We really don't have an answer to this particular contract. Most of the time, negotiations take place behind closed doors and patients are not at the table.”
Because of these questions, the OHA can put together frequently asked questions pages together to let people know their rights.
Contains information on how to apply for something called “continuity of care”
“Continuity of care means that if you are in the course of treatment, the individual can continue to see a doctor continuously throughout the course of treatment,” Holt said.
UnitedHealthcare claims Hartford Healthcare's proposal will increase healthcare costs. A United spokesman sent i-Team on Monday, March 31st:
On March 28, it offered a new proposal that includes a rate rise that coincides with the state's healthcare cost benchmark program. While seeking greater rebates than any of the health systems in Connecticut's Medicare Advantage Network, HHC responded by repeating the same demands, including price increases for commercial plans that are nearly twice the state's healthcare cost benchmark. Overall, the HHC proposal would increase health costs for consumers and employers by $185 million. Today we have provided HHC with new proposals that include additional compromises. We encourage HHC to finalize the latest proposals and ensure that Connecticut families have access to affordable care.
Hartford Healthcare claims that UHC does not cover costs and offers fees that affect their ability to recruit staff.
A Hartford Healthcare spokesman provided the following statement on Monday, March 31st:
We are very aware of the impact that affects the communities we serve and the patients. We are committed to solving the remaining issues to ensure mutually comfortable contracts, and we believe we can reach the resolution soon. Additional information can be found at our website https://hartfordhealthcare.org/united.
For now, nothing has changed, and United members can continue to receive care at Hartford Healthcare at rates and profit levels within their network.
Holt says that ultimately, the patient is the one who loses.
“It's very difficult because once negotiations are completed and it settles, they're likely to make United Healthcare save people money, make healthcare more affordable and Hartford Healthcare agrees to say to patients what they say to them.
The quality of care continues, but in reality this is happening again, and people are being used as pawns throughout this process. ”
Holt believes this kind of contract battle will continue to happen. Last summer there was a similar battle between Trinity Health and Unitedhealtcare.
Holt hopes something will change.
“Everyone needs to understand that this process can harm patients. It hurts the reliability of the entire healthcare system,” Holt said.
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