WakeMed & United Healthcare's Medicare Dispute: Higher Costs Ahead

On November twelfth, a significant healthcare dispute unfolded in North Carolina, potentially impacting thousands of Medicare patients. WakeMed announced that United Healthcare had ceased negotiations for a new Medicare Advantage contract, just days before the current agreement was set to expire. This impasse means that as of November fifteenth, all WakeMed hospitals, clinics, specialists, and urgent care facilities would be considered out-of-network for United Healthcare Medicare Advantage members. This development could lead to substantially higher costs for patients, with WakeMed estimating up to a forty percent increase in their medical bills. United Healthcare, however, presented a different perspective, claiming WakeMed was demanding a nearly forty percent price hike. The dispute continues, with WakeMed assuring patients that emergency services would still be available, but other types of care may require prior authorization. DNN | The Daily News Now! The world’s first global local news network. Every city. Every story. AI powered. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.