Deadline passes in BayCare, United Healthcare dispute

The deadline has come and gone in a very public battle between an insurance giant, and a network of local doctors and hospitals.

United Health Care and BayCare failed to reach an agreement over medical fees.

It means around 400,000 customers of United Health Care may no longer have access to BayCare's health facilities.

The facilities include 11 area hospitals, other specialized facilities and numerous doctors.

Here is a list of the hospitals:

• BayCare Alliant Hospital
• Mease Countryside Hospital
• Mease Dunedin Hospital
• Morton Plant Hospital
• Morton Plant North Bay Hospital
• St. Anthony's Hospital
• St. Joseph's Hospital
• St. Joseph's Children's Hospital
• St. Joseph's Women's Hospital
• South Florida Baptist Hospital
• St. Joseph's Hospital-North 

LINKS:

To look up your doctor or hospital, here is a link to BayCare's website: http://www.baycare.org/healthplans

Here is a link to a list of the alternate hospitals provided by United Healthcare: http://content.foxtvmedia.com/wtvt/html/misc/AlternateHospitals.pdf

STATEMENTS:

BayCare released a statement saying it would no longer participate in United's provider network. But it also said it is "open to having meaningful discussions with United."

United also released a statement confirming the contract was terminated. But they also said "the door remains open to further negotiations."

Full text of United's statement:

"We are disappointed that BayCare was unwilling to change its requested rate increase, and as a result they have terminated their contract with UnitedHealthcare. Our focus remains on serving the health care needs of our nearly half-million UnitedHealthcare members in the Tampa community and supporting their continued access to care at 21 other area hospitals. The door remains open to further negotiations with BayCare and we hope the hospital system will return to active discussions with us."

Full text of BayCare's statement:

"BayCare's hospitals, facilities, home care and laboratories are no longer participating in United's provider network for commercial, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid products.

Further, on Oct. 24, 2012, United terminated BayCare physician groups from participation in United's commercial and Medicaid networks, effective Nov. 26, 2012. BayCare's employed physicians still participate with Medicare Advantage products. BayCare's employed physician groups include: HealthPoint Medical Group, Morton Plant Mease Primary Care, Morton Plant Mease Specialists, Morton Plant Mease Immediate Care, St. Anthony's Primary Care, St. Anthony's Specialists and Suncoast Medical Clinic.

Patients can always go to any BayCare hospital or facility for an emergency medical condition and it will be covered regardless of our contract status.

United customers that have out-of-network benefits or qualify to be covered by a continuity of care provision may continue to access BayCare facilities and physicians for non-emergent services provided that United authorizes such services. For coverage questions, members should contact United at the phone number listed on their insurance cards.

BayCare is open to having meaningful discussions with United.

For more information, patients can go to BayCare.org/healthplans.