Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Broward Health plans to end its contract with UnitedHealthcare on April 1 if its demands for a new agreement are not met, according to a notification from the health system.
The health system said it has been working with UnitedHealthcare "for months" to reach a new contract, but the two parties are now at an impasse. Broward Health said it is asking UnitedHealthcare to reimburse its providers at levels comparable to what it pays other facilities in South Florida or at levels comparable to what other health plans pay it.
If a contract is not reached by April 1, Broward Health patients with UnitedHealthcare plans or plans from UnitedHealthcare subsidiaries like Neighborhood Health Plan, Preferred Care Network and WellMed would be out-of-network.
"As caregivers, nothing is more important than ensuring our friends and neighbors have access to the quality care they need," Broward Health said in a statement. "Broward Health is committed to reaching an agreement with UnitedHealthcare that ensures your in-network access to the care our team provides."
“Broward Health is terminating our contract and demanding an egregious price hike of more than 40 percent for its hospitals in the first year of our contract as a condition of continuing our relationship," UnitedHealthcare told Becker's Hospital Review. "Agreeing to Broward Health’s demands would drive up healthcare costs by nearly $26 million in just one year for our members and employer customers. We urge Broward Health to approach the negotiating table with a realistic proposal that is affordable and sustainable for the people and employers we serve."