Dispute May Put Care at Risk
By Daniel Lee, The Indianapolis Star
Feb. 5–Thousands of people insured by UnitedHealthcare soon could face disruption in their services if Community Health Network and UnitedHealthcare do not reach an agreement for a new contract before the current one expires Feb. 22.
Letters were sent to about 18,000 UnitedHealthcare members in the Indianapolis area who might be affected if negotiations fail, according to UnitedHealthcare spokesman Debora Spano.
Community, an Indianapolis-based hospital and health system, and UnitedHealthcare, a Minnesota-based health insurance giant, say they are in active negotiations.
“We are still optimistic that a mutually beneficial agreement can be reached before that time. Community will respond to United with a new proposal early next week,” Community Health and UnitedHealthcare said in a joint statement.
“We understand that there is concern in the community, and while we continue to negotiate, we will provide updates.”
Community Health Network — with five hospitals, a physician organization and multiple outpatient facilities — is one of the largest providers of care in Central Indiana.
Spano said the contract covers Community’s facilities as well as the physician group.
If members have an out-of-network benefit, they could continue to seek care at Community but likely would face higher costs, Spano said in an e-mail.
The current contract negotiations potentially affect only patients who have their health insurance through UnitedHealthcare.
The prospect of being without health insurance unnerved and annoyed some UnitedHealthcare customers.
James Frame of Indianapolis said he doesn’t like the prospect of having to drive greater distances, especially if he needs care, because a big hospital system is in a dispute with a huge health insurer.
“They’re local,” said Frame, who lives about 10 minutes from Community East and has sought care from Community for about 20 years. “You know the system. You’re comfortable.”
COMMUNITY HEALTH NETWORK SITES:
Community Health Network is among the largest care providers in Central Indiana. Thsee are its major sites:
–Community Hospital East.
–Community Hospital North.
–Community Hospital South.
–Indiana Heart Hospital.
–Community Hospital Anderson.
–Community Physicians of Indiana.
–Indiana Surgery Center.
–The Indiana Heart Center.
–Center for Digestive Care.
–Hook Rehabilitation Center.
–Community Spine Center.
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