UnitedHealthcare has reached contract agreements with HCA Healthcare-owned hospitals in four states.
UnitedHealthcare and Denver-based HealthONE, part of HCA, reached a contract agreement Sept. 1, the day the contract was set to expire. The split would have affected seven hospitals.
"We thank our members and customers for their support and patience throughout this process, UnitedHealthcare said in a statement on its website. "We are honored to continue supporting all of the people throughout Colorado who depend on us for access to quality and affordable healthcare."
UnitedHealthcare also reached agreements with HCA hospitals in Texas, New Hampshire and South Carolina.
"After months of negotiations, we have reached an agreement with UnitedHealthcare," an HCA Healthcare spokesperson said in a statement shared with Becker's. " This means UnitedHealthcare plan members and their families will continue to have access to the convenient and quality healthcare they have come to expect from our care teams."
Contract negotiation disputes between payers and providers that were reported in the media increased 69% between 2022 and 2023, according to data from FTI Consulting.
UnitedHealthcare has been involved in multiple disputes with large systems in the past year. In July, the insurer split with Livonia, Mich.-based Trinity Health hospitals in six states. The two sides later reached agreements covering many of the affected states.