WakeMed Contract Dispute Adds to Growing Healthcare Coverage Concerns in triangle Area
Raleigh, N.C. – A potential disruption in healthcare coverage for thousands of Triangle residents looms as WakeMed Health & Hospitals and UnitedHealthcare struggle to reach a new network agreement. The impasse adds to a concerning trend of contract disputes between major healthcare providers and insurance companies across North Carolina, raising fears of increased costs and limited access to care.
This latest conflict arrives as state employees face potential premium hikes due to a separate contract fight between Duke Health and Aetna, and UNC Health is similarly locked in negotiations with Cigna. These ongoing disputes highlight the complex and often contentious relationship between providers and insurers,ultimately impacting patients caught in the middle. The current agreement between WakeMed and UnitedHealthcare is set to expire in less than two months, and without a resolution, UnitedHealthcare members could face out-of-network costs for care at WakeMed facilities.
WakeMed officials allege UnitedHealthcare is employing tactics to deny claims, specifically referencing a phrase used to prevent coverage-a practice WakeMed claims mirrors previous disputes with other insurers. “We are deeply concerned by UnitedHealthcare’s approach to these negotiations, which appears to prioritize cost-cutting over patient access,” stated a WakeMed representative.
UnitedHealthcare CEO of the Carolinas Health Plan, Laurie Mandell, countered these accusations, stating, “we are working to renew our network relationship with WakeMed so our members can continue accessing care at affordable, market-competitive rates. Unluckily, WakeMed has not yet provided a single comprehensive proposal, even with less than two months left on our current agreement. Rather, thay’ve stalled discussions and are repeating a pattern of putting North Carolinians in the middle of negotiations while spreading misinformation, as they’ve done with multiple insurers in recent years.” Mandell added that the accusations of denied reimbursement are “nothing more than an attempt to distract from our negotiations.”
This isn’t the first time the two organizations have faced a contract standoff. A previous dispute led to six months of lost coverage for UnitedHealthcare patients at WakeMed in 2022 before a new three-year contract was reached.
The Duke Health and Aetna contract expires on October 20,while the UNC Health and Cigna agreement is set to expire on November 30,further intensifying concerns about healthcare access in the region. Residents are urged to stay informed about these negotiations and understand their coverage options as deadlines approach.
