UnitedHealthcare and New York City-based Mount Sinai reached a multiyear contract agreement March 19, effective immediately, after a monthslong contract dispute.
The agreement restored in-network access to Mount Sinai's hospitals for physicians and patients enrolled in employer-sponsored and individual plans, including the Oxford Health Plan, according to a March 19 UnitedHealthcare news release.
"We are pleased to have reached an agreement that puts patients first and will ensure their continued access to the care they deserve," Brendan Carr, MD, CEO of Mount Sinai Health System, said in a statement shared with Becker's. "This is a win for our patients and for our providers, who have worked tirelessly to provide outstanding care during this uncertain time."
UnitedHealthcare removed six Mount Sinai hospitals from its network Jan. 1.
While Mount Sinai was not looking to be the "highest-paid system in the region," the negotiations stemmed from requests of fair payment to its physicians and hospitals with fewer care denials, a Mont Sinai internal staffing notice shared with Becker's said.
The contract agreement comes after concerns were raised that the ongoing negotiations could affect some of Amazon's One Medical patients if an agreement was not reached, a One Medical spokesperson confirmed with Becker's on March 15.
"We thank our members and customers for their support and patience throughout this process and are honored to continue supporting all of the people throughout New York who depend on us for access to quality and affordable healthcare," the UnitedHealthcare statement said.