Vermont board urges UVM Health Network to resolve spat with UnitedHealthcare

The Green Mountain Care Board is urging the Burlington-based University of Vermont Medicine Health Network to sort out its contract dispute with UnitedHealthcare, which could leave about 2,900 patients at UVM and its affiliates without coverage, VTDigger reported March 8.

The state board, which reviews and approves hospital budgets, has no power to resolve the issue between UVM and UnitedHealthcare. If no deal is made, the patients could lose coverage after April 1, when the existing contract expires.

Only patients on employer or individual plans would be affected, while Medicare Advantage, Medicare supplemental insurance and veterans would not lose coverage, UnitedHealthcare told VTDigger.

UVM's request for a rate increase of nearly 10 percent for fiscal year 2022 is the reason the health plan is letting the contract expire, UnitedHealthcare spokesperson Cole Manbeck told VTDigger.

The health system cited administrative woes, including delays to approve care, as its reason for wanting to end the contract, CBS affiliate WCAX reported.

UVM told VTDigger in a statement that it has not been contacted by UnitedHealthcare for several weeks and the insurer's policies have "made it difficult for our patients to receive the care they need, for the sole benefit of United's stockholders."

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