5 recent contract disputes, agreements involving payers

From the University of Mississippi Medical Center and UnitedHealthcare reaching a multiyear agreement, to a Maine physician group dropping Anthem, here are five recent contract disputes and agreements involving payers: 

1. Portland, Maine-based Fore River Urology is terminating its contract with Anthem. Beginning Aug. 1, the independent medical practice will no longer be an in-network provider for patients with commercial Anthem plans, according to the report. Anthem Medicare Advantage patients will no longer be in network starting Sept. 1. Fore River Urology said current reimbursement rates with Anthem haven't changed since 2017. Anthem said the provider is demanding a nearly 50 percent increase in reimbursement rates and its counteroffers have been rejected.

2. The University of Vermont Health Network and UnitedHealthcare have extended their current contract through May 12, as they work out details of a tentative agreement. The sides have been working on a new one-year deal for months.

3. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Mississippi and University of Mississippi Medical Center agreed April 27 to use mediation to settle their contract dispute. The agreement comes after Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney wrote a letter April 21 urging the state's largest hospital and insurer to use the mediation process. The sides had not been in communication since April 1 when the hospital went out of network with the insurance company. 

4. University of Mississippi Medical Center and UnitedHealthcare reached a multiyear network agreement April 27. Those with UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans will have long-term access to all University of Mississippi Medical Center facilities and providers for the first time, effective June 1. 

5. MaineHealth said April 20 it is standing firm on its decision to drop Anthem from its flagship hospital, Portland-based Maine Medical Center. MaineHealth said there is "no indication Anthem is prepared to change its business practices" in a way that would cause it to reconsider the decision." MaineHealth has alleged the payer owes more than $70 million in unpaid claims over the last three years. Anthem has accused Maine Medical Center of overcharging patients for years. The sides are negotiating through a mediator. 

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