Editor's note: This story was updated Nov. 15 to reflect Huntsville Hospital Health System reached a new contract agreement with UnitedHealthcare.
Huntsville (Ala.) Hospital Health System reached a new contract agreement with UnitedHealthcare, a day before several hospitals were set to go out of network.
In an Oct. 10 news release, the system said it issued a notice of termination to the insurer. The split would have affected UnitedHealth commercial and Medicare Advantage plans.
Huntsville Hospital Health System has 14 hospitals in Alabama and Tennessee.
In a Nov. 14 news release, Jeff Samz, CEO of Huntsville Hospital Health System said the new agreement "enables patients to continue to have access to the HH Health care teams that they know and trust. Our patients will always be our first priority."
Public disputes between payers and providers are becoming more common, according to data from FTI consulting. In the third quarter of 2024, 37 disputes were covered by media outlets, the highest number since the first quarter of 2022.
Of the 37 disputes, 12 failed to reach a timely agreement, according to FTI consulting.