Kingsport, Tenn.-based Wellmont Health System has rejected an "unacceptable" contract from UnitedHealthcare, according to a news release.
The proposed contract terms would result in the health system receiving insufficient reimbursements for the cost of care in its hospitals, Wellmont CFO Alice Pope said in the release. As a result of the rejection, Wellmont hospitals will become out-of-network Oct. 1 for UnitedHealthcare plans including AARP Medicare Complete Plus Plan 1, AARP Medicare Complete Plan 2, United Healthcare Dual Complete and AARP Medicare Complete Essential.
Patients who want to continue receiving care at in-network rates from Wellmont hospitals should get coverage from another insurer such as BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Blue Advantage, Humana, Windsor Health Plan or the federal government's traditional Medicare program, according to the release.
In a statement emailed to The Kingsport Times-News, UnitedHealthcare said Wellmont is demanding a "significant increase" in reimbursement that Tennessee customers can't afford. The insurer is working with patients to keep them informed and prevent disruptions in access to care, according to the Times-News.
Wellmont runs seven acute-care hospitals and one critical access hospital in
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