Little Rock, Ark.-based Baptist Health could go out of network with UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans if the sides are unable to reach an agreement by Dec. 31, Arkansas Money & Politics reported Nov. 30.
A Baptist Health spokesperson told the news outlet that the health system has been working to secure a new contract with the payer for several months, but little progress has been made.
UnitedHealthcare said in a statement that the payer's goal is to renew the longstanding relationship with the health system, but added Baptist is seeking price hikes that are "neither affordable nor sustainable."