UPDATE: Officials announced United Healthcare (United) and Renown Health have reached an agreement on a new contract on Friday.
The agreement protects affordability and value-based care and provides United members with continued in-network access to all Renown hospitals and physicians.
“UnitedHealthcare is pleased to reach an agreement with Renown Health System. We recognize and appreciate that the care Renown provides is not only important but also personal to our members. Our top priority throughout the negotiations was ensuring the members we’re honored to serve in Reno have access to quality health care from a broad network of hospitals and physicians, and this agreement accomplishes that goal,” says a United Healthcare spokesperson.
In a statement, Renown Health President and CEO, Anthony Slonim, M.D., DrPH, FACEHE, says:
“We appreciate the collaborative approach of both teams to reach resolution. As Nevada’s most preferred health system and Reno’s only not-for-profit health care organization, our mission is to make a genuine difference in the health and well-being of the community. As doctors, nurses and caregivers, we want to ensure the greatest access, experience and highest quality care for every member of our community, including those insured by UnitedHealthCare. Today’s agreement marks another important milestone in achieving the goals of our strategic plan and a healthier Nevada.”
United contracts for all Renown Health services terminated on June 1. The Health Plan of Nevada (HPN) contract remains to be negotiated and finalized.
Consumers with questions can contact United by using the toll-free number on the back of their current United identification card.
Original Story: Contracts between Renown Health and United Healthcare have been terminated.
The two sides failed to reach a deal over patient coverage after months of negotiations.
That means anyone with United Healthcare, Health Plan of Nevada, as well as Sierra Health, are now out of the network.
People with those plans now have to pay more for the same treatment and procedures.
A UnitedHealthcare Spokesperson says in a quote: “Renown is the most expensive health system in the Reno area, yet it’s demanding a nearly 16% price hike that will drive up the cost of health care for the members and customers we serve."
They add, "After months of negotiations, we had reached agreement on rates, but Renown changed the goalpost by introducing new demands less than two weeks before the contract’s termination date. We hope Renown will reconsider its decision to reject the deal we were so close to finalizing and work with us to keep care affordable for the people of Reno.”
Renown officials say there are steps for people already receiving treatment for things like pregnancy or terminal illness.
Renown has a page with more information on how these failed negotiations will impact those with United Healthcare here.
Renown Health also released this statement to us on Friday:
“Renown Health has worked diligently over many months to achieve an agreement with UnitedHealthcare, Sierra Health and Life and Health Plan of Nevada (collectively “United”). We are a local organization committed to this community and our patients. There are countless examples across the country of patients being put in the middle of insurance contract negotiations. This is the very situation we sought to avoid.
Through the negotiation process, our goal has been to have a contract that best serves the needs of our growing community. We are Reno’s only not-for-profit integrated health network and provide the most comprehensive levels of care for all. Patients, not shareholder profits, are at the center of all we do. We are passionate about transforming care, improving the health of our community and enhancing the quality of life for generations to come.
We are asking United to engage in a new model that centers on health and well-being, and supports decisions being made by doctors in the best interests of their patients, not by an out-of-area, wealthy insurance company. United’s claims that Renown is demanding a 16% increase are false. We are asking for a nominal, single digit increase over the life of the contract to make health, and healthcare more accessible and affordable. Unfortunately, a new agreement has not been reached and all impacted contracts with United remain terminated.
We’ve all been through a lot this past year. Now we are concerned that United is choosing to leave its members without access to Renown doctors, hospitals, and other vital local care options. While we can’t change United’s strategy or tactics, we are committed to helping impacted United subscribers-Renown patients find a path to preserving their relationships with their doctors.
We encourage all members affected to contact their insurance agent, broker and employer to let them know how important it is for Renown to remain ‘in network’ for you and your family. Know your options, you may be able to switch or transition to another health plan based on a qualifying life event or your individual or employer coverage.
We are posting the most up-to-date information at https://link.spamstopshere.net/u/ebafed5a/pgAzrojF6xGdCEbPhnsoMg?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.renown.org%2Funited-healthcare”
Paul Sierzenski, MD, MSHQS, CPE, FACEP, Chief Medical Officer, Acute Services & Population Health, Renown Health
