JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)<\/p>\n
Facing a 5 p.m. deadline, UnitedHealthcare and SSM Health reached a last-minute agreement Wednesday to extend their current insurance contract by 30 days.<\/p>\n
SSM Health had warned that failure to reach an agreement could disrupt care for more than 140,000 patients and lead to higher costs starting Jan, 1. The 30-day extension keeps UnitedHealthcare patients in-network at SSM Health hospitals, clinics, and doctors for at least another month.<\/p>\n
This includes SSM Health Medical Group, SLU-Care Physician Group, and SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children\u2019s Hospital. SSM Mary\u2019s is Jefferson City\u2019s largest hospital.<\/p>\n
SSM Health said in a release on Wednesday that it will continue to negotiate a multi-year agreement with UnitedHealthcare to secure patients’ access to the care they need.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re proud that our resolution with UnitedHealthcare supports our Mission\u2014through our exceptional health care services, we reveal the healing presence of God\u2014by keeping care accessible and focused on healing,\u201d Justin Morley, interim president at SSM Health in Mid-Missouri, said in the release. \u201cWe thank our patients and communities for their patience and for entrusting SSM Health with their health care needs.\u201d<\/p>\n
UnitedHealthcare told ABC 17 News in a statement:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans, including Dual Special Needs Plan (DSNP) and Group Retiree, were not impacted by our negotiation and also continue to have network access to SSM Health on and after Jan. 1, 2026. Likewise, people enrolled in a Medicare Supplement plan also continue to have access to SSM Health.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Prior to the agreement, UnitedHealthcare said in an online release<\/a> that it is negotiating to keep care affordable and uninterrupted, citing rising hospital costs as a factor driving higher premiums and out-of-pocket expenses.<\/p>\n