Greenville, S.C.-based Prisma Health is alleging UnitedHealthcare breached its confidentiality agreement with the system in the midst of contract negotiations.
In an Aug. 23 filing in South Carolina's 13th judicial court, Prisma Health alleged UnitedHealthcare disclosed information about Prisma Health's rate proposals to several media outlets, in violation of the two parties' contract agreement. Prisma alleged UnitedHealthcare also breached its contract by not providing a copy of any statement issued to the media at least 48 hours in advance.
According to the court filings, UnitedHealthcare told several South Carolina media outlets Prisma Health asked for a 24 percent rate increase from the payer. Prisma Health and UnitedHealthcare will be out of network if the two parties cannot reach a new contract agreement by Jan. 1, 2024.
Prisma Health asked a judge to issue a temporary restraining order barring UnitedHealthcare from making public any confidential information from Prisma and from making any statements to the media about Prisma without 48 hours' notice. The system also asked the judge to issue an order requiring United to retract its previous statements to the media.
"If United is permitted to continue disseminating Prisma's confidential business information to the press — inciting public discourse — not only will this stymie good faith negotiations between the parties … but it will continue to tarnish Prisma's reputation in the community and employers and other health plans it works with," the system argued in court filings.
Becker's has reached out to UnitedHealthcare for comment and will update this article if more information becomes available.