UnitedHealthcare and Johns Hopkins Face Deadline in Provider Negotiations

Johns Hopkins Medicine and UnitedHealthcare are in negotiations that must conclude by August 24, or the medical institution may be considered out-of-network for UHC members.

Should an agreement not be reached, approximately 60,000 patients across Maryland, D.C., and Virginia who are enrolled in UnitedHealthcare plans could lose access to Johns Hopkins facilities starting August 25. This includes UHC’s employee-sponsored health plans, individual plans, Medicare, and Medicaid.

Joseph Ochipinti, CEO of UnitedHealthcare's Mid-Atlantic region, emphasized the company’s commitment to maintaining access to Johns Hopkins. He stated, “Our negotiation isn’t about money. We’ve reached agreement on financial terms and offered continued support to help Johns Hopkins more effectively manage the operational aspects of our relationship.” However, he noted that Johns Hopkins is insisting on contractual terms that could allow them to deny care at their discretion, which he believes would harm members and employers.

In response, Liz Vandendriessche, a spokeswoman for Johns Hopkins, criticized UnitedHealthcare for what she described as harmful practices that delay patient care. “We will not sign a contract that allows an insurance company to put profits over patients' health and well-being,” she said. She urged UHC to engage in meaningful negotiations that prioritize patient care.

If the contract is not renewed, patients currently undergoing treatment for serious conditions may have options to apply for continuation of care to complete their necessary treatment.

This situation echoes a similar contract dispute in 2022 between Johns Hopkins and CareFirst, which nearly left hundreds of thousands without in-network access to the medical institution. That negotiation was resolved just before the deadline.

Reported by HarborBeat based on WYPR (source).