After months of negotiations, an agreement was reached between Baptist Health and UnitedHealthcare that will bring coverage to many people who had insurance with the provider.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — On Friday, Baptist Health and United Healthcare announced that after months of discussions over reimbursement rates, the companies have reached a multi-year agreement.
The agreement brings UnitedHealthcare, a significant insurance payer, back into network with one of the most prominent private nonprofit health care providers in Arkansas. The agreement is effective immediately, according to Baptist Health's director of corporate communications.
“UnitedHealthcare and Baptist Health provide UnitedHealthcare members enrolled in employer-sponsored individual plans, Medicare Advantage and group retirement plans, and dual special needs plans with access to Baptist Health. “We are pleased to have reached a multi-year agreement that guarantees access to our physicians and is effective immediately and applies to our facilities throughout Arkansas,” said Carla Wade, executive director of corporate communications at Baptist Health. says Mr.
According to Wade, throughout the negotiation period between the parties, the goal was to “deliver quality.” [and] Providing affordable health care to families in Arkansas.
“Our top priority during negotiations is to ensure that the families we mutually serve receive quality, affordable health care from physicians and health care providers they know and trust. This agreement accomplishes that goal. Thank you for your patience throughout this process.” We look forward to continuing to serve the Arkansans who entrust us with their care. I think so,” Wade said.
Friday's announcement comes after Baptist Health and UnitedHealthcare initially clashed in November 2023 over reimbursement rates.
During this time, the two countries were initially negotiating to reach an agreement. However, Baptist Health and United Healthcare were unable to reach an agreement by January 2024, resulting in many people with the company's insurance being taken out of the network. This also affected those seeking treatment at all Baptist facilities and health care providers.
This had an immediate impact as many Arkansans began looking for alternative health care as 2024 began, and UnitedHealthcare was taken out of network with Baptist Health.
After several months, the two sides were able to negotiate successfully and are back on the network as of Friday, February 9, 2024.
