Kentucky’s Baptist Health ends contracts with UnitedHealthcare and Centene’s Wellcare Medicare Advantage plans, effective January 1, 2024. Previous disputes over denied or delayed authorizations prompted this move. The termination affects nine hospitals, clinics, home care services, and 1,100 clinicians. Baptist aims to protect patient care decisions from insurance interference. Both parties are committed to negotiations for a renewed partnership, prioritizing uninterrupted access to healthcare for Medicare Advantage enrollees.
Kentucky Health System Ends Contracts with UnitedHealth and Centene Medicare Advantage Plans
Louisville, Ky.-based Baptist Health will terminate its network affiliation with UnitedHealthcare and Centene’s Wellcare Medicare Advantage plans starting January 1, 2024.
The health system’s medical group previously went out of network with Humana’s Medicare Advantage and commercial health plans in September due to frequent denials or delays in prior authorization requests or payments from the insurers.
Baptist, which operates over 400 non-hospital facilities across Kentucky and southern Indiana, will see all nine of its hospitals, outpatient clinics, home care services, and 1,100 clinicians in its medical group impacted by this separation.
“We are informing affected patients to explore their out-of-network benefits, consider alternative health plans, or arrange for alternative care,” stated a Baptist spokesperson to Louisville Public Media. “Our primary focus is to secure agreements with Medicare Advantage plans that safeguard our patients’ access to necessary medical care and empower patient-doctor decisions, free from insurance company interference.”
UnitedHealthcare also expressed a commitment to reestablishing ties with Baptist Health and ensuring uninterrupted access to the health system for individuals enrolled in their Medicare Advantage plans. “We are dedicated to ongoing negotiations and utilizing the remaining contract duration to reach a new agreement,” a spokesperson told Louisville Public Media.