Ascension Wisconsin is again included in UnitedHealthcare’s network of hospitals, clinics and other providers, after the hospital system and the health insurer reached a new, multi-year agreement on payment rates, according to an Oct. 14 announcement.
The new agreement means that people with health insurance through UnitedHealthcare, including commercial, Medicare Advantage or Medicaid plans, can see their Ascension Wisconsin doctors and other providers at in-network rates.
“Our top priority throughout the negotiation was to reach an agreement that was affordable for consumers and employers, and this agreement helps accomplish that goal,” said a statement from Dustin Hinton, CEO of UnitedHealthcare of Wisconsin, in an email from a company spokesperson.
The agreement comes after a months-long contract dispute between the two sides, which came to a head on Oct. 1, when the previous contract between Ascension Wisconsin and UnitedHealthcare expired and tens of thousands of patients were told that Ascension Wisconsin doctors were no longer in network.
The agreement is effective immediately and is retroactive to Oct. 1, according to statements from Ascension Wisconsin and UnitedHealthcare.
Patients insured by UnitedHealthcare who received medical care from Ascension Wisconsin between Oct. 1 and Oct. 13 will be billed at in-network rates and should not be billed for out-of-network costs, said Ascension Wisconsin spokesperson Mo Moorman. He said the hospital system held the claims for medical services provided during that time frame and that they will be covered.
“We are grateful for the partnership and patience of those we serve as we navigated this important agreement,” said Daniel Jackson, CEO of Ascension Wisconsin, in an emailed statement.
This is a developing story and will be updated.