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Click Here 48 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, February 26, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend February 5, 2004 Stalled talks cut out ‘preferred provider’ United Health Care and Jackson County physicians disagree on contract offer By BILL KETTLER Mail Tribune Stalled contract talks between Jackson County physicians and one of the nation’s largest health-care companies could mean higher doctor bills for several thousand Rogue Valley residents. Doctors have rejected contract offers from United Health Care, a Minneapolis-based company that provides coverage for companies that include JCPenney, Wells Fargo Bank, BOC Edwards and Qwest. If the present contract, which expires Sunday, is not renewed, people who have their doctor bills paid through United Health Care will lose the advantage of "preferred provider" rates. That means they could still see their doctors, but they may have to pay more. Local physicians negotiate their contracts with United Health Care and other health insurance companies through PrimeCare, Jackson County’s association of independent physicians. "This was a business negotiation that was not conducted in good faith by United Health Care, and therefore failed," said Mike Bond, PrimeCare’s chief executive officer. He noted that PrimeCare has successfully negotiated contracts with 20 other companies that provide health-care benefits for 70,000 Jackson County residents. Advertisement "We’ve been successful with 20 other companies," he said. "People can draw their own conclusions about who’s at fault." Bond said physicians’ compensation was not an issue in the negotiations. He said the contract proposed by United Health Care would have forced PrimeCare to fundamentally reorganize its operating structure. United Health Care did not respond to calls from the Mail Tribune on Tuesday or Wednesday. The company provides health benefits primarily in the East, Midwest and South. According to the company Web site, United Health Care provides benefits for 16 million people and has contracts with more than 400,000 physicians and 3,300 hospitals. Bond estimated that about 3,000 to 4,500 people in Jackson County have some kind of benefit through United Health Care. "We regret that the ending of our relationship with United Health Care would have any negative effects on any patient or physician in our valley," he said. Medford’s two hospitals still have contracts with United Health Care. That means charges at Providence Medford Medical Center and Rogue Valley Medical Center will continue to be processed and paid as they have been in the past. "People won’t have to worry about that," said Cheryl French, a spokeswoman for Providence. On Wednesday, word of the impending change still had not reached many people who receive benefits through United Health Care. Some who learned about it from their physicians called friends and co-workers to share the bad news. Many were angry about not being notified, either by their employer or United Health Care. "That is totally unacceptable in my mind," said Donna Hickman of Eagle Point. "All of a sudden we have no preferred providers and we’ll be stuck with the whole enchilada." "It’s like nobody wants anybody to know this is going to happen," said John Svilarich of Central Point. Bond said United Health Care was obligated to give participating employer groups notice about the failure to agree to a contract 30 days prior to the expiration date. JCPenney and Wells Fargo employees said Wednesday they had not received any formal notice of the change. Bond said people who have United Health Care coverage may want to talk to their human resources representatives or employee benefits specialists about their options. Physicians will decide how to deal with the change on an office-by-office basis, he said. Reach reporter Bill Kettler at 776-4492, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! 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