UnitedHealthcare (UHC) has provided notice to CVMC that they will be terminating our contract for hospital-based services on October 1, 2021. This termination means that thousands of UnitedHealthcare members in our area would no longer be considered in-network at CVMC.
CVMC leadership has worked tirelessly and in earnest to come to an agreement that would meet UnitedHealthcare’s desire to lower hospital reimbursement while still ensuring the hospital receives adequate compensation to cover the cost of care. Unfortunately, UnitedHealthcare proposals would cause millions of dollars in losses for our health system and would cause harm to our patients and our ability to provide medical care for our community. We have offered significant contract reductions to stop UHC from terminating the contract. UHC has been unwilling to accept our concessions and are continuing to push for termination during the deadliest pandemic in U.S. history.
We are very disappointed that the largest health insurance company in the world, which earned approximately $22 billion in the last 12 months, has chosen to terminate the relationship with our community hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic and we have alerted our state and national authorities.
CVMC has seen the significant stress and financial hardship COVID-19 has created for many, and the health system will not allow patients to bear the additional burden of being caught in the middle of their insurance provider’s contract negotiation strategy. Patients who are concerned about UnitedHealthcare’s actions should consider contacting their Human Resources department or Benefits Administrator and ask them to choose another health benefit plan that includes CVMC in the provider network. They may also call UnitedHealthcare at the Customer Care number listed on their ID card or at 1.800.328.5979 and ask them to withdraw their termination of CVMC and allow time for a fair and equitable negotiation.
We value the trust our patients place in the providers and staff at Catawba Valley Health System, and we will forever be committed to finding solutions that always puts the health and well-being of our patients and our community first.