I hope this email finds you well. Thank you for all of your support and the wisdom you bring to the table and share with us. We have been attempting to renegotiate our contract with UnitedHealthCare for over 1.5 years. Our ACO/Optimus was unable to reach an agreement and walked away. We have been unable to speak with a viable human. I reached out to the NJAAP to help find a person however the only representative was from medicaid and unable to provide assistance.

 

Please see the attached letter sent to our families (may be familiar to you!). 
We sent this to our UHC/Oxford families and posted it on our website. We asked our families to forward the letter to their Human Resources and upload it on the UHC website. Recently we received emails from UHC asking us to stop upsetting the Employers:) Today we received an angry phone call from their contracting team. Let's just say it was a wild conversation. In the end they offered to set up a meeting to discuss the contract. Will they meet our needs, we are skeptical. 

 

How fun is this? Thank you again for all you do and share with the little guys!

 

Here's a copy of the letter:

During the past 2 years, our practice has been in negotiation with UnitedHealthCare Insurance (including Oxford) over matters related to their lack of appropriate payment and high administrative costs. Unfortunately, these negotiations appear to be at an impasse and we are no longer in contract.
We have chosen to notify our patients' families to ensure that you are able to effect necessary changes as of 2026. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have. 

You may also wish to contact UHC/Oxford directly using the telephone number on the back of your member ID card. Of course, we will gladly continue to be your family's pediatricians unless you choose to transfer to another provider. However we will no longer be able to submit claims to United HealthCare on your behalf as of January 1, 2026. There may be options for you to change plans as some employers have several plans for you to choose from. Another option may be to submit your paid receipt for reimbursement; we will be happy to help.

We hope to continue as your children's pediatricians and we will endeavor to make all efforts to assist you in receiving uninterrupted care. Please do not hesitate to call us with any questions or concerns.

 

This small practice on the east coast got the attention of The Evil Empire by leveraging their patients - a strategy featured in one of my earliest blogs.  If I get a report of their negotiation results, I'll share it here.  In the meantime, any of you unable to get a rep on the phone, this is how you do it.   Let them feel the pain of their customers.