Durham, N.C.-based Duke Health is encouraging its patients to select another Medicaid managed care plan after its contract with UnitedHealthcare Community Plan expired Oct. 15.
The expiration affects about 10,000 patients, CBS affiliate WNCN reported Oct. 17. Duke told the news outlet it would not elaborate on its decision to discontinue the plan's network affiliation.
UnitedHealthcare told WNCN it has been in discussions with Duke for almost a year about renewing the plan. The payer said it is "committed to meeting with the system as often as it takes to reach a new agreement."
The dispute does not affect Duke Health patients with UnitedHealthcare's employer-sponsored, individual and Medicare Advantage plans, according to the report.