UnitedHealthcare and Erlanger Health System may be showing signs of holiday cheer. The icy standoff between the insurer and the hospital may be thawing.
After a months-long standoff and a week of negotiations, the insurer and the hospital struck an upbeat tone about their likelihood of reaching an agreement on both their TennCare insurance contract, which was terminated in October, and their commercial contract, which was set to expire at the end of this month.
“We continue to make progress on a renewed contract with Erlanger and are optimistic we will be able to continue their participation in our network,” United spokesman Daryl Richard said.
Erlanger vice president of payer relations Steve Johnson struck a similar note. “We’ve had productive discussions and we’re optimistic that we’ll be able to reach an agreement,” he said.
The words are a stark change in tone for both parties. Erlanger has repeatedly said that United offered “unreasonably” low rates, and that the insurer has a history of payment problems. United, meanwhile, has said the hospital walked away from fair offers.